Jainism the Oldest Living Religion

Author(s): Jyoti Prasad Jain, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

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The Oldest Living Religion
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as Nigantha Dharma, in the Indo-Greek and Indo. scythian periods as Sramana Dharma, in the so-called Hindu period as Jaina Dharma, Syādavāda Mata or. Anekādta Mata, in the days of Bhakti movement especially in the Deccan as Bhavya Dharma, in Rajputana. as Śrāvaka Dharma, in the Punjab as the religion of Bhābadās and so on. Besides being purely indigenous and the earliest religious system of civilized man, it is the only one which has miraculously endured so long and yet preserved its integrity down to the present day, Since its inception it has ever been acting and reacting on all religious systems it came in contact with, and influencing human thought and culture. Its contributions, too, to all the many domains of culture are by no means meagre or mean. It has the noblest and most practicable message of peace and good will, of universal brotherhood and sound bliss and happiness, not only for the land of its birth but for the world at large, not only for the individual but for the whole of the mankind. Dr. Nag said, “Jainism is not the religion of any one particular caste or community. Eut it is the religion of all living beings. It is international and universal”.. In the words of Pev. A. J. Dubois “Yea! his (Jina's) religion is the only true one upon earth, the primitive faith of all mankind”.
Glory be to the creed of Jina !!!