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CHAPTER 7
· RETROSPECT
1. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Jainism is a neglected branch of Indology. Eminent research scholars in different branches of Indology have paid very little sttention to Jainism. This was due to the fact that the original Jaina texts were not readily available to the research workers. As a result the opinion of early European scholars regarding the origin and growth of Jainism was divided. While one group consisting of E. Thomas, Stevenson, Colebrook and others thought that Jainism is older than Buddhism, yet the other group of orientalists like H. H. Wilson, Lassen and others held that Jainism was an offshoot of Buddhism because outwardly certain points were common to both and their land of origin and early activities was the same. The question whether Jainism was a precursor to Buddhism or not was settled for good in a scholarly manner by the researches of two great German Orientalists, namely, Bühler and Jacobi. It is now an established fact that Jainism is not a branch of Buddhism but is an independent religion and that it was flourishing in India when Lord Gautama Buddha founded his new religion.2.
Though the question of origin of Jainism has been finally settled, still the question regarding its antiquity has not as yet . been completely solved. Till recently Lord Mabāvira (599-527 B.C.), the 24th Tirthankara of Jainas, was regarded as the founder of Jainism. But taking into account recent researches in the field it has now been acknowledged by all that Lord Mahāvira's predecessor, viz., Lord Pārsvanātha, the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainas, was a historical personage belonging to the 8th century B. C. and that he is the real founder of Jaina religion.3 Thus the Jaina History is thought to commence from the 8th century B. C. But it is pertinent to note that this opinion is not shared by the Jainas. They hold that Lord Pārsvanātha and Lord Mahāvira are mere prophets of Jaina religion and that the real founder of Jainism is Lord Ķshabha, their first Tirthankara. Various reasons are vehemently put forward by the Jainas to prove the antiquity of
