Jainthology

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 58

K. P. Jayaswal and B. G. Tilak have no doubt as to the antiquity of Jainism over Buddhism,42 To quote a few others:
"That Parsva was a historical person is now admitted by all as very probable."43-H. Jacobi.
"We ought also to remember both that the Jaina religion is certainly older than Mahavira, his reputed predecessor Parsva having almost certainly existed as a real person, and that consequently the main points of the original doctrine may have been codified longbefore Mahavira."44-Jarl Charpentier.
"The first twenty-two of them are, however, unknown to history and reasonable doubts may be entertained regarding the existence of most of them. But the twenty-third Tirthankara Parsva seems to have had a real existence. His death may be placed in the 8th century B.C.45R. C. Majumdar.
"They (the Jainas) believe in a great number of prophets of their faith anterior to Nataputta (Mahavira Vardhamana) and pay special reverence to the last of these, Parsva or Pārsvanatha. Herein they are correct, in so far as the latter personality is more than mythical. He was indeed the royal founder of Jainism (778 B.C.) while his successor, Mahavira, was younger by many generations and can be considered only as a reformer. As early as the time of Gautama, the religious confraternity founded by Parśva, and known as the Nirgrantha. was firmly established sect."'46-Harmsworth.
"It is generally believed that there were Jaina monks before Mahavira, belonging to the order founded by Parsvanatha. They had also their own caityas."47-R. P. Chanda.
42 Jain, J. P., op cit., p. 14.
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Jaina Sutras, S.B.E., Vol XIV, Intro.
Uttaradhyayana Sutra (Upasala Ed), Intro., p. 21.
Outlines of Ancient Indian History and Civilisation, p. 216; An Advanced History of India, p. 86.
History of the World, Vol II, p. 1198.
'Mediaeval Sculpture in Eastern India', J.D.L., Vol III, 1920, pp. 225-246.
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