Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism

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

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A Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism
is included and it becomes plausible once we take into account the explanation given by Guatama to Kesi when the latter raised the question of difference in the number of vows preached by Parsva Nãtha and Mahāvīra as depicted in the 'Gautama Kesi Saṁavada' of Uttaradhyayana Sutra. This text also tells us that the followers of Pārsva Nätha used to wear clothes.
The four precepts preached by Parsva are only ethical regulations and have only practical implications. Because of the practical nature of his teaching B. M .Barua dubs him as a religious leader and his order merely as a 'religious order' different from that of Mahāvīra which was not only a religious order, but also a distinct school of thought'." But it is very difficult to agree with Barua on this point. No religious teacher can convince his followers unless he tells them that the rules taught by him are not arbitrary and will lead them to the summum bonum of life. For it is required an ontological perspective in which the spectacles of flux and constant of life and world could be systematically explained. It is true that the Păli and Jain texts do not give us any information about the philosophical ideas of Parsva Natha. But it will be unwise to take that he had no philosophical justification of his ethical teachings. Had he not been a philosopher, he would not have been able in attracting people in a great number, which necessitated the establishment of saṁgha comprising thousands of monks and nuns and remained in function even centuries after his demise. It is too much to give all the credit to Mahavīra for all the doctrinal propositions, which constitute the early Jainism. It may be surmised that a great part of that was coming from earlier Tīrthankaras and, particularly, from Parsva Natha. No doubt, Mahāvīra christened, developed and systematised it. Unfortunately, purva literature is lost otherwise we would had been more accurate on the form of Jainism before Mahāvīra and also on the point of contribution of Parsva Nãtha to Jainism.
Parsva Natha played a great role in propagating Jainism to masses.