SOME OPINIONS ABOUT JAIN ANTIQUITY

Opinions of some eminent scholars both Indian and foreign , about Jain antiquity also deserve consideration.
Shri M.S. Aney, Ex. Governor of Behar says,
Rsabha Deva is expressly regarded as an avtor of Vishnu in the Bhagwat Puran.

Incidentally Islam alone of the other more important creeds can be said to be silent about Jain Tirthankaras, but the use of first person pronoun in plural “We” which refers either to a number of Gods, in the sense in which it used by earthly kings as a mark of personal greatness, throws some doubt.

There is yet another important fact deserving notice about Islam which had adopted crescent as its emblem why only a crescent and not the full moon? In Jainism crescent is the mark which differentiates the images of Lord Chandra Prabhu- the eighth Tirthankara-from the rest.This again may throw doubt whether the creed of the crescent reveres, it not openly at least in a disguised way, the Jain Tirthankara stangely enough the mosque the Kaba has 24 gates. Reference is also invite to this matter under “ Arabia” in the chapter headed “Jainism” abroad.

The Chakra which has a place of honour on the white strip in the Indian National Flag and which is an exact reproduction of the Dharma Chakra of the top post of Ashoka’s piler at Sarnath, has 24 spokes. The fact that Emperor Ashoka had put 24 spokes, neither less not more ; is not merely an accident but it was wilful. This is because the emperor had acquired faith in Jainism after his conquest at Kalinga.*

Prof.Dr.Herr Lothar Wendel (Germany) said “ The day will come soon, when all Jain Tirthankaras will be recognised as the Torch bearers of Humanity.

V.O.A. Vol 45 P.81

Sixth Chapter of the fifth books shows:

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yksdL;;% dj/;kik QyekDr;yksde~ vk[;kUue% Hkxors _"kHkk;
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My bow to Bhawgan Rsbha, who eternally enjoys satisfaction of self-realisation, and from whom all hankering has disappeared, and who being moved by pity for the people, whose intellect has long remained dormant and indifferent to their real good solely under influence of passion for earthly desires, showed the path of fearlessness and self-illumination.”

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Please see under the head Emperor Ashoka un in the Chapter headed the Jain King and monaches.

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Dr. Bimal Charan Law. M.A, Ph.D, D.Litt., written in his books “The Historical Cleanings”.

“Jainism plays an important part in the history of India. Their religion is no doubt earlier than Budhism, or from all accounts it is clear, that Mahavira was an older contemporary of Budha. The principal of Jains have, according to traditions, existed in India from the earliest times. The names of Rsabha Nemi, etc. as well known in Vedic literature.”

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan the then Vice-President of the Union of India, in his book “ The Indian Philosophy” page 287 summarise:

“ Jainism tradition ascribes the origin of the system to Rsbha who lived many centuries back. There is evidence to show that so far back as the first Century B.C. there were people, who were worshippers of Rsabha Deva, the first Tirthanaka. There is no doubt that Jainism prevailed even before Vardhman or Parashwa Natha. The Yojur-Veda mentions the names of three Tirthanakas Rsabha, Ajitnatha, and Arista Nemi. The Bhagwat Puran endorses the view that Rsabha was the founder of Jainism , whatever the truth of it, all the Jains believe that their system had previously been proclaimed through countless ages by each one of succession of great Teacher.”

Dr. A.P. Karmaker M.A. LL.B. Ph.D., writes in a article “Rsabha Deva in the Hindu Puranic Literature” of he Voice Ahimsa March-April , 1957.

“It seems that Rsabha was an eminent personage of great repute. He was a yagin par-excellence, who much have flourished in the proto-Indian period....... The various representations of proto-type Shiva seated in a yoga postsure show how yoga happened to be indigenous to India and how it was appropriated and made as their own being Aryans in the upanishadic period and latter....... old Indian literature of Sanskrit, Kanada, Tamil etc, has also many references to Jain Tirthankaras..... The Gospal of Varsabha Deva is elaborately discussed in such Tamil classics as Tolkyam, Tirukural etc......”

Prof. Gusturi Uppart, Ph.D., Prof. of Sanskrit and Comparative philogy Presidency College, Madras, says:

Panini refers to Saktyana as a previous Grammarian & thus supplies a reason why the latter makes no mention of the former Sakatayana’s name occurs also in the Pratisa Khyas of the Rigveda & Suuktas of Yajurveda.

Major J.G.R.Furlong F.R.S.E. , F.R.A.S. in his book, “ The Short Studies in the Science of comparative Religious” Page 243-244 says.

From all accounts it appears that Jainism is the oldest religion of India. Near about 500 B.C. and pre-historic days, the whole of the Northern India & its North Western territories were ruled by Dravadians who usually worshipped serpents and trees. Jainism existed in those days. It was a highly permitive, civilised , and philosophical religion from which Budhism took its birth. Jainism was preached by its twenty four Tirthankaras long before the Aryans reached the Ganges.”

J. A. Dubai, in his book “Description of the Character, Manner and Custom of the People of India and Their Institution, religious and Civil”. Translated in English from French by the East India Company in 1817 writes:

“Yea, his (Jain) religion is the only true one upon earth, the primitive faith of all mankind.

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