________________
Jainism as a Pre-Aryan Religion
discending on the earth in the human form. Tirthankara is a human being who rises, through his own efforts, to the state of spiritual perfection. It is, in a sense, expression of the spirituality inherent in man through the practice of spiritual exercise. He becomes the ideal for the other human beings and "when we see greatness passing by, our-selves are great" We are lifted from the mire of misery and that also with our own efforts keeping the Tirthankara as an ideal.
Jainism is a religion preached by the tirthankaras. The first tirthankara in this eon of the cycle of time is Rşabha and the 24th tirthankara is Vardhamana Mahavira.
Therefore, it would be apter to say that Vardhamana Mahavira was not the founder of Jainism. He was only the promoter (Pravartaka) of Jaina religion and thought. He carried the tradition of the previous tirthankaras. The tradition of 24 tirthankaras is an important contribution of Jainas to the Indian thought. It has been suggested that the Jaina concept of 24 tirthankaras has influenced the Vedic concept of Avatara and the Buddhist concept of 24 Buddhas. The Avatara in the Vedic tradition has been expressed in various ways. With reference to the number of Avataras in the Bhagavata Purana, there are variations in the number of Avataras. The Bhagavata mentioned 16, 22 and 24 Avataras. Tradition of 24 Avatara gets crystalised in the Vaişņava tradition by the middle ages.1 Some scholars have suggested the tradition of 24 Avataras. This has been influenced by the Jaina view of 24 tirthankaras 2 The Buddhist tradition also mentions 24 Buddhas. In the Lankavatara sūtra there is mention of 24 Buddhas, although in some other places the number varies. But, by and large thc Buddhist tradition has accepted the concept of 24 Buddhas. But we find the Jaina have stead-fastly held to the tradition of 24 tirthankars.
2. Jainism is a Pre-Aryan Religion which prevailed in India long before Mahavira and Parsva, the last two tirthankaras. 8 Jacobi has made it clear that Jaina tradition is much earlier than the Buddhist tradition and Mahavira is the last tirthankara to carry the tradition of Jaina teaching. 4 As McDonnel points out, there
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
