Outlines of Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini, F W Thomas
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

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INTRODUCTION: HISTORY, ETC.
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and Digambaras. The pilgrims are of both sexes and are numerous, chiefly on the occasion of the Dewāli, the day on which Lord Vahāvīra attained nirrāna. This is the great Indian illumination feast, which falls early in winter. The pilgrimage continues till the end of March, when the attendance begins to decrease. The main temple, which contains the sacred footmarks of Vahā vīra, stands in the iniddle of a tank, covered with lotuses and other aquatic plants, and thronged with fishes of various kinds. The insulated temple of our last lord is reached by a bridge of stone. In the temple itself, in a low chamber facing the east, there are three niches. The central one, the largest of the three, contains the footmarks of Lord Mahāvīra : the niche on the right of it those of his disciple and apostle Gautama; and that on the left those of his other great apostle Sudharma Achārya. Both these saints flourished in the time of Mahāvīra and attained nirrāna within sixty-two years of his death at Pāvā.
It is not long since in the west both the personality of Malāvira and the originality of his doctrine were denied. His personality was merged in that of his great contemporary and rival, Gautama Buddha. His doctrine was stated to be an offshoot of Buddhism, or a rebellious variety of Brahmanism. Both these errors of western savants have now been abjured. As to the historicity of Vahāvīra, Professor Guérinot, among others, has emphasized five great points of difference between Lord Vahāvīra and Gautama Buddha, relating to their birth, the deaths of their mothers, their renunciation, illumination, and death. To this may