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Eastern border of Afghanistan.near about Taxilla. Among the Indo-Greek kings who ruled over Afghanistan and North-western India, Mononder was attracted towards Jainism, He, with hundreds of Indo Greeks tried to understand Jainism and to live upto its principles'.
King Samanides ruled over Afghanistan from 89? A.D. to 999 A.D., wbo b
. to 999 A.D.. wbo bad great leapings towards India wisdom and calture. His name indicates, as it appears to be the corrupted form of the Sanskrit name Sbramanadas ( WAUCTE ), tbat be was either the follower of Jain religion or that of Buddhism, for the word Sbramana was used for the recluse of both tbe religions. It seems that in letter times Buddhism displaced Jainism in Afghanistan and became stato religion. It thus could be tbe reason for the absence of sny Jain relic in that country; though Buddhist ones are being pointed out at Bamian and elsewbere. Out of these cave te and stupas,- wbiob are ascribed to Buddbism, it as possible that some of tbem migbt be belonging to Jainas. As far instance tbe Pillar of Wheel oalled . Meenar Cbakri" wliob is situated near Kabal is quite indentical in its shape and workmansbip to the pillars of the Jain temples in South India. It is desirable that some Jaio scholar should visit these countries in order to investigate tho monu. ments of their ancient 'sites,
2 Abyssinia and Ethiopia—The Greek bistorian Herodotus mentioned the existence of the Gymnosopbiste in Abyssinia and Ethiopia3 and we know that the term "Gymnosopbint' denotes the Nirgrantha Jain reclusest. Sir William Jones making no discrimination between Jainism and Buddhism, was doubtful that whether they followed the doctrines of Buddha. But it is clear that Buddhism could not bave reached so early to such a far off country, since its first foreign mission was sent by king Asoka. 1. Milinda Penha. 2. Hindi Vishwa-Kosh, Vol I. pp. 678-680, Modern Review,
Feby 1927, p. 133. 3. Asiatic Researches, Vol. III. P. 6. to. Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th, edition ). Vol. XV., p. 128.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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