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10
JAINISM BEFORE MAHÂVÎRA
-Devendrakumar Shastri
The Sumerian civilization is considered to be the most ancient civilization in Central Asia. Some scholars think that the eastern sages were the progenitors of the Sumerian culture. According to a German scholar the Indian immigrants from Sauràstra were the builders of this culture. In the opinion of late Dr. Kamta Prasad Jain the builders of Sumerian civilization belonged to 'Su' clan. These people were the followers of Jainism. The brothers-in-law of Tirthankara Rishabha named Sukaccha belonged to Saurâstra. In the opinion of Dr. Jain not only the Aryans but the Dravidians also adored and followed Lord Rishabha. The excavations of Mohan-jo-Daro and other sites of Indus Valley civilization approve this fact. The clan named 'Su' worshipped 'Meru'. In the Paurânic Jaina literature allusion to obeissance and worship of five Mierus and nature-made shrines are found. In the Jain narratives they are frequently and specifically mentioned.
In Rigveda devotees of the Vedas and the Bralimana are called 'Bârhatas'. Vedic texts are named 'Brhatî'. Those who followed the Vedic lore observed celibacy. They preserved their semen by practice of self-control and austerity. Such followers of the Vedic Lore were called 'Bârhatas'.' These Bârhatas were the pioneers of the Brâhma or Brâhmanic culture. But even before the Vedic Era people Vrâtya of Sâdhya clans had founded the Arhat culture and opposed the Brâhmanic culture along with its doctrine of creation by God. They did not regard God as the creator of universe. They believed in the spontaneous emergence of universe by the laws of nature. Having known the laws of nature man also can build a new world. Man is the greatest power on earth. He is the mightiest of all that exists. It is said that the Sâdhyas
