Jainism

Author(s): Vallabh Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabh Smarak Nidhi

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being named in the Yajurveda (IX. 25). The Adi Parvů of the Mahabharata refers to kshap maka; which means a Jain monk. The Bhaga. vata Purana (V, 3-6) gives the life of Lord Rishabha. The word shramana occurs in the Ramayana (1, 14-22) and commentators interpret it as meaning a skysclad Jain Monk. In the Prabhasa Puriana Lord Nemi is referred to as a Jina who obtained salvation on Mount Raivata.
The Buddhist Shatashastra (5th century of the Christian era) mentions Lord Rishabha as the founder of Jainism.
Archaeological proofs of the antiquity of Jainism are also not wanting. In the Orissa inscrption of the Emperor Kharavela (160 B.C.) Rishabha is mentioned as Agrajina. The Kan. kali Stupas of Mathura also prove the antiquity of the system. Some scholars maintain that nude figures dicovered at Mohenjo-daro are in the Yoga posture peculiarly Jajna. 18 prof. Pran Nath of the Banaras Hindu University deciphers Seal No, 449 as “ Jinesha” (Jin-i-Sarah).14
13 The Modern Review, August 1932, pp 155-16.
14 The indian Historical Quarterly. Vol. VIII, Supplement.. p. 18.