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So far as the age of Jainism is concerned, it is now admitted on all hands that it is at least about 2,800 years old the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics Vol. vii, pp. 465-466). This implies the historicity of the twenty-third Tirthamkara, Bhagwan Parasva Nath. But modern speculation is still exercised over the historicity of the earlier Tirthamkaras whom it is inclined to regard as a fiction invented with a view to claim the lustre of antiquity for a new creed. This is, however, absurd, for, as has been demonstrated in this work, not only Jainism but even some of those very creeds which to-day range themselves in opposition to it fix the number of the Holy Ones as four and twenty. Several works of authority on Hinduism, as for instance, the Bhagwat Purana, go even farther, and bear out the Jaina tradition, mentioning the first Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabha Deva, expressly by name, and describing Him as a great Teacher and muni, the Conqueror of samsara, and the obtainer of moksha. His parents and descendants are also expressly named, and He is described as the founder of Jainism. Such important testimony, coming, as it does, from the hostile camps, is of the greatest value, and, being itself, as it no doubt must in some cases be, of a very ancient date, conclusively establishes the fact that the great Tirthamkaras are not pure inventions of the Jaina writers.
RECONCILIATION.
Besides, the ancients were noted for sincerity and love of truth, and their records breathe the purest fragrance of ingenuousness and unsophisticated candour. It is plain that no true teacher of religion can afford to indulge in what is known as fabrication of evi
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