Book Title: Jain Journal 1998 01
Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

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Page 19
________________ JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXII, No. 3 January 1998 uver ludia and outside, while Jainisın was contined to India where it suli siuvives while Buddhism disappeared since lorig. Buddhism gained footing in Tibct, Nepal, Bhutan, Mangolia, China, Japan, Korea, Indian Archipelago, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Cevlon etc. Now through the cultural activity of "Voice of Animsa" Jainismus being made known to the Western and Eastern countries. It is very sad that Buddhism which was a state religion and had enjoyed the patronage of Kings like Asoka completely disappeared' from india, while Jainism has many devotees in India even to this day. At the end of the third Buddhist council, missionaries were sent to Kashmere. Kabulistan, Bactria, countries at the foot of the Himalayas and lower India and Ceylon. Gaya or the Bodhigaya is considered by the Buddhist as a sacred place in virture of the fact that it was under the bodhi vrksa that Buddha got full enlightennient. For the Jainas Pavāpuriis considered as the boly place because here Lord Mahavira attained Moksa. Thousands of pilgrims in both the religions pay a visit to these sacred places. They have become the place of pilgrimage for the devoute devotces. For the Jainas, Mount Abu. Sanctasikhara. Kesariyaji, Girnar, Satrunjaya, Sravama Belgola, Pälitana, Rāṇakpur etc, are sacred places of pilgrimage. A branch of the Mahabodhi tree was transplanted in Ceylon by Mahendra, the son of Asoka; and therefore it is considered as a holy place. The Buddhist Stupas found in India, Burma, Rangoon, China Japan etc. are equally well-known as objects of pilgrimage in the case of Buddhsin the Chinese pilgrims Fa Hian and Huan Tsang who had embraced Buddhism visited these places and wrote chronicles about Buddhism. Various religions have their own peculiar festivals. This holds good in the case of Jainism and Buddhism too. The common festival though celebrated in a different manner is the festival of lights (Dipävali). This festival is celebrated in honour of the achievement of absolution by the founders of the two religions : Material lamps are lighted in place of spiritual lamps. The Amaväsyä of the month of Asvin is the day on whicin the Lord achieved the final knowledge i.e. thc Kevalajñāna. To suffest that the lord has attained spiritual light of knowledge devotees celebrate this fact by observance of certain Vratas. In Buddhism this is celebrated by illumination. The number of Buddhist religous festivals later on went on increasing like those of the Jainas; and they are celebrated in different places in diverse manners. Three festivals of the Buddhists are common to all. They are: The festival of the lamps, the festival at the commencement of the spring and the festival of the burtl: cay of Lord Buddha. 1 Kor attempts are made to revive it in India. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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