ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 51

SCHOOL
TIONAL
OF
AN STUDIES
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
B.1.1.1.1
Historical Background of Jainism
Dr. Shugan Chand Jain
1.0 Preamble
There are many beliefs about the origin of species and the world itself. Some believe in its being created by God and so on, others talk of Big Bang doctrine. Jains believe that the universe is eternal; it was, is and will be there forever, only its contents and components keep on changing1. This is based on the Jain doctrine of reality, which says that reality is existent and with origin-decay-permanence2. Even modern scientists and logicians support this claim and say that the universe is eternal with changes taking place continuously. Some events, when change is drastic, are considered as either creation or catastrophic. Another interesting concept of Jains i.e. of time (called Kāla) is extremely important to appreciate the history of mankind and culture.
Jainism is perhaps one of the oldest religions of India. Unfortunately even the ancient history of India itself is not well documented to establish the antiquity of Jainism. To establish antiquity of India and Jainism, we have three alternate methods namely; results of by archeological methods, tradition and old texts. We shall use the recent studies and archeological surveys conducted to understand the origin and history of Jainism by reviewing the growth as well as development of various traditions (Śramana, Vedic etc) in India and elsewhere.
Geographically India extended from the present Afghanistan in the north to Indonesia/Malaysia in the east3. Over the period of time, due to various reasons, a number of its parts kept on separating themselves from it to leave India as it is known today. We now analyze the growth of civilization in India (perhaps the oldest in the world) by diving India in three regions namely:
• The mountainous ranges in the north extending from Tibet in east and Afghanistan in the west. (green in Annexe I)
1 Bharatiya Itihāsa: eka drşti, by Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain, a noted expert on Indian history in his book1 or Indian History published by Bhartiya Gyanapeeth, New Delhi.
2 Utpadavyayadhrauvyayuktamsat, Tattvärtha-sutra by Umäsvāmi, Sūtra V.31
3 Annexe I
4 Annexe II
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0