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THE JAINA GAZETTE.
Philosophy. Inanimate objects do never possess soul. They believe as Sir J. C. Bose and other modern scientists have begun to believe.
6. Both the sects have their own sacred books, no doubt, but treating with the same philosophy and history in different languages. Swetamberas mostly in Prakrit and the Digambaras in Sanskrit and Hindi.
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But the ensuing remarks of the learned authors are quite objectionably and needlessly passed. Can the authors safely quote the names of any two branches of a religion where the trifling disputes are not going on temporarily or permanently? But has any historian ever dared pass such remarks, or would one dare now when the feeling of the Hindus and the Mohammadans are rising so high against each other, especially when writing a book like this to be taught in schools, as a supplementary reader? Can they quote a word or so from the books of either of them persuading the followers of the one to find fault with the other? No and never, they can not quote any such line as in the following lines the worthy authors have contradicted their allegations themselves. They say :
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A Jaina is careful of life in every form. He tries to respect the feelings of his neighbours in every possible way.' (Page 14, lines 18 to 20.)
The teachings of Jainism are binding upon every person of whatsoever degree. The main principle is Do your duty. Do it as humbly as you can." (page 15, lines 11-14.)
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On the contrary, in spite of some cases in courts regarding their sacred places, the followers of both the sects are generally on friendly terms. They partake in the religious and social affairs of each other with the least hesitation. Hence the authors are not justified in this remark of theirs.
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6.
7. The authors are wrong even in saying that the Jainas began to worship the images after Mahavira. They did such worship even before Him. Of it there can be given many instances from ancient history. This is the popular belief of all the idolworshippers.
As to the second part of the statement this is quite a new Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
