Jain Journal 1970 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 18

JULY, 1970
Since the Tirthankaras like Risabha, Ajitanatha and Aristanemi belong to a remote past being mentioned in the Yajur Vedait is obviously interesting to recall the life and time of Neminatha, the twentysecond Jina who was a cousin brother of Krisna and Baladeva. Besides, there are indications that the cult of the Jina faithfully aligned with the
cession of Tirthankaras. Among other instances an affinity between a male torso from Harappa and a polished torso of a Tirthankara evidently standing in kāyotsarga pose from Lohanipur in Bihar has appeared significant particularly in revealing the antiquity of the relevant system of meditation and acceptance of life and objects in accordance to the supreme knowledge of self or the gift of kevala. Aside this kind of affinity whose final explanations may come after further discoveries there is little doubt about the prolonged continuity of the tradition of Jaina thoughts like the unaccountable source of the distant cult of the earlier Buddhas. One has to believe that like Buddha Konakamana adored by Priyadarsi Asoka Parsvanatha was also a historical figure whose realisation illuminated the self in the everlasting light of knowledge. Beckoned by this ideology to recognise the self and, thereby the truth and reality of everything the adherents of Mahariva left a tradition whose origin goes back to the dawn of civilisation. As a study of iconography and traits of legends and philosophy especially laying stress on the liberation of self and on ahimsā will obviously reveal analogy with different systems of Hindu and Buddhist thoughts it is edifying to follow the annals of early Tirthankaras narrating the growth of a tradition within the geographical boundaries of India in cultural perspective. Here it will be interesting to recall that it was on the Mount Parsvanatha in eastern India where
? Ibid., p. 250.