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Girikuta bill and then transcending the forest of Vetra, be reaebed the country of Tankapas : thence he was carried over by Bherundas through the air to the Island of Burmal. Cbarudatta found some Jaisa temples there, Tbus Jainiem was prevalent in Burma. Even to-day there are many Jaina immigrants to Burma, who are big trade magnets at Rangoon and elsewhere,
8 Central Asia-Sir Aurel Stein, a former principal of the Oriental College: Labore, discovered that ancient India established colonies in Central Asia and ruled thero for several centuries. They also introduced tbere their own language-a kind of Prakrita?". We know that Pria krita is the canonical language of the Jaidas and they seem to bave penetrated the country and preached their doctrines tbere. In this respect the following remarks of Rev. Abbe. J. A. Dubois are strikingly significant:
“Jainism, probably at one time, was the religion of all Asie-from Siberia to Cape Camorin, north to south, and from the Caspian-Sea to the Gulf of Kamaschatka, from west to east".3
Likewise Major General J. G. R. Farlong after a thorough investigation, informs that "Oksida, Kaspia, Cities of Balkb and Samarkand were e-rly Centers of this (Jaina) faith, and the importance of this sect is also seenin tbeir namo being given to one of the gates of Jeru. Salem"".
Some paintings of the naked Jain saints were found in a cave in Chinese Turkistan. Viewing these facte we find tbe narrations given in the Jajo Paranae about these
atiies worth reliability and it is safe to presume that Jainism was once & prevalent religion of Central Asia,
9 Ceylon-The modern Ceylon represents the ancient Lanka of Ravana, altbougb sobolars do not agree to this. It is believed generally that the modern Ceylon can
1. Harivansa Purana, XXI 99. 2. Modern Review (March, 1948) P 229 3. Descriptions of... the People of lndia and of their Institution
Introd. 1817). Short Studies in the Science of Comparative Religions (1867) P. 33 and P. 67.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
