Mahavira Life and Philosophy

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

Page 84

confirms Puranic record and carries the dynastic chronology to C. 450 B. C."
This shows that Lord Rishabhadeva was worshipped by the Indians even about 2500 years ago. Several inscriptions of Mathura deciphered by Dr. Fuhrer show that Rishabhadeva had an important place during B. C. days, since there are dedications and offerings of a very ancient date made to Rishabha (Outlines of Jainism P. XXXIII).
The edicts of Asoka show that Jainism was very important in 275 B. C. Therefore, he had appointed special officers ('8 Ara') for looking into the affairs of Jainism like those of Brahmanism, Buddhism and the sect of Ajivakas. Prof. Kern (Indian Antiquary Vol. V, p. 205) says, "His ( Asoka's) ordinances concerning the sparing of animal life agree much more closely with the ideas of the heretical Jains than those of Buddhists."
Commenting 'upon the discoveries of Mathura, historian Vincent Smith observes, “The discoveries have to a very large extent supplied corroboration to the written Jain tradition and they offer tangible and incontrovertible proof of the antiquity of the Jain religion and of its early existence very much in its present form. The series of twenty-four pontiffs (Tirthanakaras) dach in his distinctive emblem was. evidently firmly believed in at the beginning of the Christian era".
It is interesting to note that this country is called Bharata—the land of Bharat, who was the eldest