Jain Journal 1997 04

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

Page 33

130
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXI, No. 4 April 1997
devoted their valuable times to unearth many hidden treasures of Jainism from the debris of antiquity. The subject is so vast and varied that the whole amount of literature put together will not be able to fathom the depth of the ocean of learning. Dr Vinod Kumar Tiwari's History of Jainism in Biharis again one such contribution to the history of Jainism. The book has 250 pages with 6 chapters excluding introduction and conclusion.
Historically Bihar is the place for the origin of Jainism. It was in the 6th c. B.C. in Magadha (in Modern Bihar) that Mahavira preached his doctrines which in later times came to be known as Jina dharma, that is, Jainism. In the first chapter the author has described the life and works of Vardhamana Mahāvīra (561-490 B.C.), that is, his birth and parentage and his early life and the renunciation of house and the meeting of Gośala and so on. The facts are very straightforward and, more or less, historically established. Though the author has based his subject on some textual evidences, the author could not avoid the secondary sources for which he has to depend on some sources which have some controversial elements. His second chapter Jainism before the Mauryas (490-325 B.C.) is interesting, though very short. As this chapter is based on some materials which are late in origin the historicity of this chapter is not free from question. The third chapter Jainism in Mauryan period (325-188 B.C) is again very short, though the kings like Candragupta Maurya, Vindusāra, and Asoka, are presented. The historicity of many facts of this chapter may create some controversy among the scholars. Some of the mistakes in regard to some of the books are very much regretted. For example, the author says "even Vana's Sanskrit drama Harsacharita twice uses it in a good sense as an honorific." I am sorry to say that 'Harsacarita' is not a Sanskrit drama, rather it is a historical kävya in prose. Such types of mistakes, of course, are found here and there, as far as the references to the original texts are concerned. In the chapter Jainism before the rise of the Guptas (188 B.C. 319 A.D), the author has delineated the rise of some political powers before the Gupta period and the position of the Jainas in that period. Though most of the references are very scrappy and short, it also flashes some new outlook which is in no way inferior to others. In the chapter Jainism in Gupta period (319-600 A.D) the author has discussed the points which are more political rather than on Jainism. So also his last chapter – Last phase of Jainism in Bihar (600 A.D-to the Muslim conquest) where the account on Jainism is less than the other political ideas.
Though the author has tried his best to put Jainism in proper perspective from a historical point of view, the way he has handled the