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JAINISM AS THE COMMON PLATFORM
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lands and from different and even hostile creeds (see iny “Rishabha Deva"). The teaching of Jainism is not couched in allegory, but is plainly expressed in a scientific manner. and can be easily understood. Whatever be the true age of . Jainism and that is a point about which there is and can be a considerable difference of opinion-it is certainly the only one that can explain the puzzling facts of the rise, expansion and deviations of Religion and religious History satisfactorily; and it is the only religion that could have been the source of inspiration to the Muses of the rishi poets who composed the allegories of the Rig Veda, or whatever else might have been the earliest compilation of allegorical personifications. If the above conclusions appear strange to any one it will be only because the moderns are ignorant of the true reading of their scriptures, and seek to read the religious books as if they were historical docuinents.
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