Mahavira Life and Philosophy

Author(s): Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 78

64 (Vaivasvata), then to Mabu, who passed it out to King Ikshvaku. After this the knowledge of Yoga fort into oblivion for a very long period. This ancient Yoga doctrine' was then faught by Shri Kristina to Atjuna in the Gna (Chizpter 41, 2 and 3).
Acharya Samant Bhadra of the second century A. D. in his Swayambhu Stotra says that Lord Rishabha was the first person of Ikshavaku clan "647BERISHTE #: srt gir !" This establishes the fact that the period of Rishabha is very ancient. Therefore, the system of thought called Jainism must naturally be very ancient, since it was founded by Lord Rishabhadeva.
The excavations made at Mohenjodaro and Harappa show that Jainism existed five thousand years ago, because the pose of the standing deities On the Indus seals resemble the pose of standing image of Rishabhadeva obtained from Mathura. The feeling; ofri abandonment that characterises the standing figures of the Indus seals, three to five (Plate II, GN) with a bull in the foreground may be the prototype of Rishabha (Modern Review, August 1932-Sindha Five Thousand Years Ago). Rishabha has been spoken of as Yogishwara by poet Jireeman in his Mahapurana. Therefore, the Indus valley otcavated material glaringły establishes the fact that the founder of Jainism belonged to the pre-Vedic period, The aude Jain idol of 320 B. C.. in the Patna Masoum, of Lobanipur helps us to support the above contention.