Vijaydharmasuri

Author(s): A J Sunavala
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Page 71

JAINISM, ANCIENT AND MODERN 65 vived in India down to the present day, and that one is Jainism. Here lies for the student of Comparative Religion the most attractive and the most fascinating problem of study. For, indeed, it is an interesting and an instructive study to find out and realize the true causes that have thus enabled Jainism to weather the storms that in India wrecked so many of the other faiths. Yet another reason that may well attract and engage the attention of the student of Indian Religions to the study of Jainism lies in the fact that a singular and an uncommon interest attaches to its history and its doctrines.
JAINISM NOT A SUB-SECT OF BUDDHISM Within the last forty years a group of Western scholars, pre-eminent amongst whom are the late Professor Hofrat Bühler, Professor Leumann, Professor Weber, Professor Jacobi, Dr. Hoernle, Dr. Hertel and Dr. Guérinot, have effected a great advance in our knowledge of the Jain religion and literature. Many and very important additions to our knowledge of Jainism and its history have been made by these selfless scholars, devoted to learning and literature. For long it had been thought that Jainism was but a sub-sect of Buddhism; but that opinion--thanks to the labours and researches of European scholars interested in the study of Eastern languages and literature-has been finally relinquished, and Jainism is now admitted to be one of the most ancient and independent organizations of India.