Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism

Author(s): S N Shrivastava
Publisher: Rekha Publication Gorakhpur

Page 66

Animism
The point to be noted here is that the during the middle of first millenium B. C. when religious thinking had reached a very advanced stage leaving animism far behind, is it plausible to hold, firstly, that such an animistic concept was envisaged and articulated by Mahāvīra and, secondly, that the people among whom Jainism originated and was being spread were still in primitive stage ready to accept animistic beliefs? May it not be humbly suggested that it is not an invention of sixth century B. C.; such an animistic conception is an archaism and Mahāvīra simply carried it on like many other ideas bequeathed by early Tirthankaras.
1.
2.
53
The animistic belief in Jainism takes its antiquity back to the early reaches of religious consciousness. As such it may not be taken to have come into existence as a revolt or reaction against any established religious tradition at a later stage, rather, it had an independent and natural course of origin at a very early stage.
3.
Drever James - A Dictionary of Psychology, 1961-p. 15.
Edward B. Tylor - 'Animism' - in Primitive Heritage Ed. Margaret Mead and Nicolas Calas - "It is habitually found that the theory of animism divides into two great dogmas, forming parts of one consistent doctrine; first concerning souls of an individual creatures, capable of continued existence after the death or destruction of body; second, concerning other spirits, upwards to the rank of powerful deities. p.48
Ibid. p. 48.