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Sagarmal Jain: The Historical Development of Jaina-Joga-System
2. Canonical age (5th century B.C. to 5th century A.D.) 3. Post canonical age (6th century A.D. to 12th century A.D.) 4. Age of Tantra and Tituals (13th to 19th century A.D.)
5. Modern age (20th century) 1. Pre canonical age :
The concepts of Yoga and meditation are as early as Indian culture it self. From the earliest period, we find two types of evidences regarding yoga and meditation-1. sculptural evidences and 2. literary evidences. For the first phase of Yoga and meditation, sculptural and literary both types of evidences are available. But it is very difficult to say, these evidences support the Jaina method of Yoga and meditation. We can only say that this earliest phase of Yoga and meditation belongs to śramaņic culture of which Jainism, Buddhism, Ājivakas, Sāṁkhya, Yoga as well as some other minor śramaņic trends are the offspring. For this reason every Indian system of dhyāna and yoga has right to claim it, as its own. Due to this some Jaina scholars also made the claims that these evidences belong to their own tradition. The earliest sculptural traces regarding Yoga and meditation are found from the Mohanjodaro and Harrappa. In the excavation of Mohanjodaro and Harrappa some seals are found, in them Yogis have been shown as sitting or standing in the meditational posture.?
It proves that in that period meditative and yogic practices had been prevailed. The culture of Mohanjodaro and Harrappa may be called as the earliest state of the śramaņic culture of India. It is clear that while the Vedic tradition was engaged in performing the yajñas or scarifices, the śramaņic tradition was taking interest in yogic and meditative practices. I am of the opinion that this early sramanic tradition, in due course of time had been divided into various branches such as Jainism, Buddhism, Sāṁkhya-Yoga and Ājivaka along with some other minor sects. Though the Upanişadic trend of that period had tried to make a synthesis between the śramaņic and Vedic traditations, yet it was mostly dominated by śramaņic tradition. The Sāṁkhya and Yoga systems may also be the result of this synthesis. But we must be aware of the fact that in them śramaņic features are
