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Lord Mahâvîra
erected an observatory at the confluence of Sarasvati and Indus and built up the sun. In it they surveyed the entire cosmos. Thus the Ârhatas did not believe in rituals but believed in Kârmic bondage and freedom from it. The Hindu Purânic literature bears a testimony to the existence of this tradition. In Padma Purâna the Arhat creed is regarded to be an eminent creed.2 Tirthankara Rishabhadeva is said to be the founder of the Arhata creed. In Srî Mad Bhagavata Purâna Lord Rishabhadeva is called Yogesvara i.e. Lord of the Yogies an over-ascending genius among the Vâtarasana and Srâmanic ascetics.3 In the Upanishadic and Purânic texts the Nirgrantha ascetics are alluded to. Actually the tradition represented by the Arhata creed seems to shine through the Jaina canons and mythological literature as well as the Upanishadas. Up to the age of Lord Pârshvanâtha Jaina religion was denoted by the word "Arhata".
In the Buddhistic Pâli texts and Ashoka's rock inscriptions "Niggantha" is used for Jainas. Actually Nirgrantha (unchained) is a Jaina technical term meaning one who is independent of all desires and material possessions. In the Jaina canons expressions such as Jaina Shâsana, Jaina Tîrtha and Jaina Samudghâte are available. From Lord Mahâvîra's Nirvâna to the heirarchy of eight Ganadharas or Acharyas "Nirgrantha" was principally used for the Jainas. But during the later half of the paurânic epoch expressions such as "Jaina Dharma" and "Jina Dharma" came to be used commonly. In Matsya Puràna and Devi Bhagavata Purâna expressions such as "Jina Dharma" and "Jaina Dharma" are found. According to Dr. R.K. Mookherjee the Vedic civilization was a contribution of many monarchs and priests. As a matter of fact it was an age of pre-dominance of the Kshatriya kings. The Ârhatas were mainly kshatriyas. The Kshatriyas have always been taking interest in the intellectual lite of their age. A study of the Jaina Paurânic literature brings this fact to clearer light "Bharata, the son of Tîrthankara Rishabha, the first sovereign monarch (chakravartin) whose name has been adopted by our nation, Janaka and Vardhamâna were such learned monarches. Jainism was developed through ages by twenty four Tirthankaras who were all Kshatriyas. According to Dr. B.S. Upâdhyaya Jainism was the first off" shoot of the Shrâmanic culture. On the basis of the images of the naked yogies found in the ruins of the civilization
