Book Title: Introduction to Jainism and its Culture
Author(s): Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

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Page 210
________________ The sign of swastika is found engraved in the Rani cave at Khandagiri-Udayagiri. The ayagapaṭṭa of Kuṣāṇa period also has a Nandyavarta (a geometrical figure like an extended swastika) inscribed. At many ancient places including Kauśāmbī, Rājagṛha, and Śrāvasti rock pedestals with swastika and snakes inscribed on them have been found. Swastika has always been in use in all Jain temples as an auspicious sign. It is also an essential symbol in rituals of Jain worship. With passage of time the fame of swastika inspired almost all civilizations and religions to accept it in one or the other form. In spite of the fact that it had an important place in human psyche as an auspicious symbol much before the origin of castes. Swastika has also been interpreted as symbol of existence of castes and their unity. The golden urns from Alaja Huyuk in Iran dating 2400 to 2200 B. C. are embellished with swastika motif. The relationship of Iran and India are accepted facts in history. In context of Jain history the comments of Śri Jyoti Prasad are worth consideration "It appears that it was probably from the time of Sambhava to those of Puspadanta, respectively the third and ninth Tīrthankaras, that the Indus civilization had continued to flourish and that it was the age of Śītala Natha the tenth Tirthankara which saw the rise of the Vedic Aryans and thus the Brahminical culture and civilization. Here it should be clearly understood that Indus civilization and Harappa civilization words convey wrong message. Civilizations similar to Harappa civilization were existing in whole country, particularly in northern Bharata, central Bharata, coastal regions and many places have been identified similar to Harappan life style. Now the time has come that history of India should be freed from hypothetical concepts of Aryan invasion from the north and equally from the ambitious and false interpretations of Vedic Aryan expansions in India and abroad. No doubt people of Bharata (India) had sound connections with Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, China, Nepal, south-eastern Asian countries, and many more countries still to be 'entified, since almost six thousand years, they were none but original inhabitants of India Bharatavarṣa. It will be better if they are not labeled by any biased name. Every student of history knows that Vedic civilization is not old then 4000 years and Aryan invasion theory has been promoted by 193 For Private & Personal Use Only Jain Education International www.jainelibrary.org

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