Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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(making and using of weapons), MASI ( reading and writing), KRISI (agriculture), VIDYA (learning and fine arts), VANIJYA (business), and SHILPA (arts and crafts).
Historically it is significant that India derived its original name 'Bharat' from Bharat, the son of Rishabhdeo and his successor as Emperor. Bharat's younger brother Bahubai following the footsteps of his illustrious father took to the path of renunciation and became a Jain monk. Bahubali's 57 ft. high granite statue stands in its divine grandeur of renunciation and total detachment and inspiring serene glow of penance and meditation at Shravanbelgola in the state of Karnataka in South India.
The statue was built during the rule of The Gang dynasty by General Chamundrai in the 11th century. At the same place where many centuries earlier Emperor Bharat had built a statue to commemorate the arduous penance of Bahubali. In fact inspired by Bahubali's renunciation, Bharat himself became a Jain monk.
Bahubali at Shravanbelgola
Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan writes in his book 'Indian philosophy':
"Evidence is available that much before first century A.D., there were followers of the first Tirthankar Rishabhdeo. There is no doubt whatsoever, that Jain religion existed much before Mahavir and Parsvanath. Yajurveda also mentions Rishabhnath, Ajitnath and Arishtnemi. Bhagwat Purana also supports that Rishabhdeo was the founder of Jain religion."
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A Portrait of Jain Religion