Vijyanandsuri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth

Author(s): Navinchandra Vijaymuni, Ramanlal C Shah, Shripal Jain
Publisher: Vijayanand Suri Sahitya Prakashan Foundation Pavagadh

Page 880

of the Hindus corroborates the Jaina tradition beginning from Rishabha, the first of the twenty four Tirthankaras. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan observes that the Yajurved mentions the names of three Tirthankaras: Rishabh, Ajit Nath, and Aristanemi. The Bhagwata Purana endorses the view that Rishabh was the founder of Jainism. The Ahimsa doctrine preached by Rishabh is possibly prior in time to the advent of the Aryans in India and the prevalent culture of the period.' Some scholars are of the opinion that the Jaina culture is identical to the prevedic Dravidian culture. Both these cultures are believed to be simple, unsophisticated, clearcut and direct manifestation of the pessimistic outlook'. The Jaina philosophy is generally pessimistic i.e. it believes that life is full of misery. The optimistic attitude of the vedic Aryans is totally different from the Jaina pessimism.
Apart from the traditional account, the last two Tirthankaras, namely Parsava and Mahavira are wellknown historical personages. Dr.Herman Jacobi in his book . Sacred Books of the East' (1984) has incontrovertably established that even before the times of Mahavira, Jainism was very much in existence under the leadership of Parsava who is known as the twenty third Tirthankara.
The historicity of Parsava is unanimously accepted as having preceded Mahavira by 250 years. The tradition has it that the parents of Mahavira were followers of Lord Parsava who preached four Vows:
1. Not to kill 2. Not to lie 3. Not to steal,
4. Not to own property.
Mahavavira added a fifth vow of chastity to the vows enunciated by Parsava. Dr. Herman Jacobi observes that 'the followers of Parsava especially Kesi who seems to have been the leader of the sect at the time of Mahavira are frequently mentioned in Jaina sutras in such a matter of fact way as to give us no reason for doubting the authenticity of records.' The historical event of the acceptance of fivefold 'dharma' of Mahavira by 500 followers of Parsava at 'Tumgiya' further reinforces this view.
In Jainism ethical discipline is regarded as having supreme importance. It has two aspects: One relates to spiritual purification by pursuing the doctrine of Karma which is free from any divine intervention. The individual has to suffer the consequences-good or bad - of his or her
Jaina Attiiude To Animal World: Impact On Social Life In India
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