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Dr. Niyogi, the Chief Justice of Nagpur High Court tells us, "The Jain thought is of high antiquity. The myth of its being an off-shoot of Hinduism has now been exploded by recent historical researches."1 The Bombay High Court has decided, "It is true, 88 later researches bave shown, that Jainism prevailed in this country long before Brabaminism came into existence and it is wrong to think that Jains were originally Hindus and were subsequently converted into Jainism "2 According to the ruling of Madras High Court, "Jainism has an origin and history long anterior to Surti and Sumurti.3 According to Dr. H Jacobi, The interest of Jainism to the students of Religion consists in the fact that it goes back to a Very early period and to Primitive currents of religious and metaphysical speculations, which gave rise also to the oldest philosophies Sankhya; Yoga and to Buddhism" Jainism was in existence long before Mahabharata, Ramayana and even Vedic period. Rigveda, Ather. Veda, Yagurveda, Samaveda, Bhagwatpurana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Mans umarati, Shivpurana, Vishnupurana, Markandapurana, Aganipurana, Vayupurana, Gararhapurana, Naradapurana; Sikandhapurana etc.etc. almost all the sacred booksof Hindus Brahmins & Buddhists frequently mention the names of Jinendras, Arhantas and Jain Tir thankars with great honour and respect.5 Modern researobes have proved beyond doubt that the religion of Dravids was Jain, Prof. A. Chakravarti, a retired I.E.S. also informs, "First Tirthankara Lord Rishbha's religion evidently was prevalent in whole India before the Aryan's invasion as is evidenced by various references found in Rigveda," Admittedly the Jain Sanskriti was in full
1. Dr. M. B. Niyogi, C. J. Nagpur: JainShasan, Introd. P. 16. 2. 1937, All India Law Reporter (Bombay) Page 518.
3. 50, Indian Law Reporter (Madras) Page 228
4. Transaction of 3rd International Congress History of Religions II Page 59. Reprint in J. Ant. Vol. V.
5. This books Pages 41-70, 405-411.
6. Prof. Belvalker: Brahma Sutra, 109.
7. Voice of Ahinsa (World Jain Mission, Aliganj) Vol. II P. 4
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
