Introduction to Jaina Sadhna

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Chapter II Antiquity of Jaina Tradition
Antiquity of Jainism goes back to pre-historic period of Indian culture. In support of this view Prof. Zimmerman observed, there is truth in Jaina idea that their religion goes back to remote antiquity, the antiquity in question being that of the Pre-Aryan (Zimmerman : The Philosophies of India, p. 60). We find references of Vrātyas and Arhatas in Rgveda and Atharvaveda, the oldest texts of the Indian literature. These Vrātyas and Arhatas of Vedic period were the ancestors of Jainas. They were also known as Sramaņas in Upanişadic period. Alongwith the references of Vrātyas, Arhatas and Sramanas in Vedas and Upanişadas, we find mention of some Jaina Tirthankaras such as Rşabha, Ajita and Aristanemi in them. It is a certain proof that Jainism in its oldest form as Vrātya tradition was prevalent at the time of composition of Vedas hence its antiquity goes back to pre Vedic period, i.e., at least three to five thousand years before Christian era. Secondly in Mohen-jo-daro and Harappa some seals of meditating Yogis have been found, which show that the tradition of performing meditation and Yogasādhanā was present much more earlier in Indian Culture than the arrival of Aryans and their Yajña rituals because no Yajñavedi was found in these excavations. In these earlier days, present Jainism was known as a Vrātya-dharma or Arhatdharma.
In later times of Upanişadic period (C. 800 B.C.) the Vrātyas, Arhatas and Sramaņas were divided into various religious school. At that time (c.800 B.C. to 500 A.D.) Jainism was known as Nirgrantha-dharma. In Buddhist Pāli tripitaka,