Jainism is a science and is founded by those Great Ones who have attained perfection with its aid. Scientific validity can’t be claimed by mysticism or dogmatism. And it is unnecessary to add that nothing but scientific validity can be trusted for accurate and timely results.
FOUR AND TWENTY [[Tirthankars]][https://archive.org/details/FourAndTwenty Four And Twenty Tirthamkaras] found Jainism in every half cycle of time. [[Rishabhdev]] was the first ”tirthankara” of present descending half of the cosmic time cycle (”avasarpini”).
Jainism is a philosophy of eternity. All sciences are really eternal and so is [[Jainism]] (The Science of Salvation). According to [[Champat Rai Jain]] (author of “The [[Key of Knowledge]]”), Jainism is not only the oldest religion but it is also the parent of all forms of religions (Refer
[https://archive.org/details/JainismChristianityAndScience Jainism Christianity and Science]”). Scholars like Heinrich Zimmer believe that Jainism is the earliest known religious systems prevailing in India and was widespread in the Indus Valley. The relics found in Harrapan excavations like the standing nude male figures in [[Kayotsarga]], idols in [[Lotus position|Padmasana]] and images with serpent-heads, and the Bull symbol of [[Rishabhdev]], represent Jain culture.Regarding the antiquity of Jainism, Dr. Heinrich Zimmer noted: “There is truth in the Jaina idea that their religion goes back to a remote antiquity, the antiquity in question being that of the pre-Aryan so called Dravidian period, which has recently been dramatically illuminated by the discovery of a series of great Late stone Age cities in the Indus Valley, dating from the third and perhaps even fourth millennium B.C.(Zimmer|1952|p=59)
Vardhaman Mahāvīrā was the twenty-fourth and last tirthankara of present half cycle of time.
There is reasonable historical evidence that [[Parshvanath]] (Buddha of the Chinese, Tibetans) lived in the 9th century B.C.
Neminatha was the predecessor of Parshvanatha and 22nd Tirthankara of the Jain tradition. In 1890-91, Kankali Tila (or Jaina mound) at [[Mathura]] was excavated by Dr. Fuhrer. After studying the findings of this excavation, Dr. Fuhrer was of the view that Neminatha was a historical figure.
Traditionally, the original doctrine of Jainism was contained in scriptures called [[Purva]]. There were fourteen Purva. These are believed to have originated from [[Rishabha|Adinath]], the first ”[[tirthankara]]”.{{harvnb|Shah|1998|p=12}} There was a twelve-year famine two centuries after the death of [[Mahavira]], the last Jain ”tirthankara”. At that time, [[Chandragupta Maurya]] was the ruler of [[Magadha]] and [[Bhadrabahu]] was the head of [[Jain community]].
Bhadrabahu went south to [[Karnataka]] with his adherents and [[Sthulabhadra]], another Jain leader remained behind. During this time the knowledge of the doctrine was getting lost. A council was formed at [[Pataliputra]] where eleven scriptures called [[Anga]]s were compiled and the remnant of fourteen purvas were written down in 12th Anga, Ditthivaya by the adherents of Sthulbhadra.
When followers of [[Acharya Bhadrabahu]] returned, there was a dispute between them regarding the authenticity of the Angas. Also, those who stayed at magadha started wearing white clothes, which was unacceptable to the others who remained naked. This is how the [[Digambara]] and [[Svetambara]] sects arose, the Digambara being naked whereas the Svetambara were white clothed. According to Digambara, the purvas and the angas were lost.
According to Digambara tradition, [[Ganadhara]] knew fourteen [[Purva]] and eleven [[Anga]]. Knowledge of Purva was lost around 436 years after [[Mahavira]] and Anga were lost around 683 years after Mahavira.{{harvnb|Winternitz|1988|p=417}} The texts that do not belong to Anga are called Angabahyas.
There is mention of the first tirthankara, [[Rishabhdev]] in [Rig Veda]. Rig Veda, X.166 states- “Risabhdev went on, unperturbed by anything till he became sin-free like a conch that takes no black dot, without obstruction … which is the epithet of the First World-teacher, may become the destroyer of enemies.”
India was named [[Bhāratavarsha]] or Bhārata after him. In the Skanda Purana (chapter 37) it is stated that “”Rishabh” was the son of [[Nabhiraja]], and Rishabha had a son named Bharata, and after the name of this Bharata, this country is known as Bharata-varsha.”
Buddha is said to have followed every known ascetic practice. In Majjhima Nikaya, Buddha shares his experience {{“|Thus far, SariPutta, did I go in my penance? I went without clothes. I licked my food from my hands. I took no food that was brought or meant especially for me. I accepted no invitation to a meal.}} These are in conformity with the conduct of a [[Digambara]] Jain monk.
The ”tirthankara” are said to have attained perfect knowledge, known as ”[[kevala jnana]]”. After Mahavira, one of his disciple Sudharma Svami is said to have taken over the leadership.(Thomas|1877|p=5-6) He was the head of [[Jain community]] till 515 BCE.{{harvnb|Glasenapp|1999|p=39}} After his death, Jambuswami, a disciple of Sudharma Svami became the head of the monks.
He was the head till 463 BCE.{{harvnb|Glasenapp|1999|p=40}} Sudharma Svami and Jambu Svami are also traditionally said to have attained ”keval jnana”. It is said that no one after Jambu Svami has attained it till now.
After Sudharma svami, a succession of five ”sutrakevalis”, i.e. those who were well versed with scriptures, who headed the monks of the Jain community. ”Acharya Bhadrabahu” was the last sutrakevali. After [[Acharya Bhadrabahu]] there were seven (or eleven) leaders. The knowledge of the scriptures was gradually getting lost with each one of them.
The information regarding the history of Jainism is uncertain and fragmentary. Jains consider the king [[Bimbisara]] (c. 558–491 BCE), [[Ajatashatru]] (c. 492–460 BCE) [[Udayin]] of the [[Haryanka dynasty]] as a patron of Jainism. Jainism also flourished under the [[Nanda Empire]] (424–321 BCE).
;Mauryan empire
Tradition says that Chandragupta (322–298 BCE), the founder of [[Mauryan Empire]] became disciple of [[Acharya Bhadrabahu]] during later part of his life. During Chandragupta’s reign, Bhadrabahu Swämi moved to karnataka after sensing a twelve-year-long famine.
Sthulbhadra, a pupil of ”Acharya Bhadrabahu”, stayed in Magadha. Later, when the disciples of ”Acharya Bhadrabahu” returned, they found that those who stayed back started wearing clothes. They found this as being opposed to the Jain tenets which, according to them, required complete nudity. Those who wore clothes are known as svetambara where as the other were known as digambar.
==See also==
* [[Jain cosmology]]* [[Pancham Kaal]]* [[Indus Valley Civilization]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|3}}
==References==
*{|last1=Zimmer
|first1=Heinrich
|title=Philosophies Of India
|year=1953
|editor=Joseph Campbell
|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
|location=London, E.C. 4
|url=https://archive.org/details/Philosophy.of.India.by.Heinrich.Zimmer
|isbn=978-8120807396}
*{
|last=Sangave
|first=Vilas Adinath
|title=Aspects of Jaina religion
|url=http://books.google.com/books/about/Aspects_of_Jaina_Religion.html?id=I8RUPwAACAAJ
|edition=3
|year=2001
|publisher=Bharatiya Jnanpith
|isbn=81-263-0626-2}
== Further readings ==
*{{author=[[Edward Thomas (antiquarian)|Thomas, Edward]]|title=Jainism or The early faith of Asoka|journal=Nature|volume=16|issue=407|pages=329|url=https://archive.org/details/jainism_00thom|year=1877|publisher=London, Trübner & co.|location=London|bibcode=1877Natur..16..329|doi=10.1038/016329a0}}
*{{author=[[James Forlong]]|title=Short Studies in the Science of Comparative Religions: Embracing All the Religions of Asia|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rntIAAAAYAAJ|year=1897|publisher=B. Quaritch
|archive-url=https://archive.org/details/shortstudiesinsc00forlrich
|archive-date= 2008}}
==External links==
* http://www.jainworld.com/education/seniors/senles22.htm
* http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/article/antiquity.htm