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| CONTENTS:- I. Jainism Before Mahavira: Indication of the term Jainism; Origin of Jainism; Traditional claim to antiquity higher than modem criticism admits; Parshva and Mahavira considered historical personages; Grounds of Parshva's historicity; Early references to Jainism in Buddhist literature; Connection between the Jaina church of Parshva and Mahavira; References to Jainism in Hindu literature; Modern scholars on the antiquity of Jainism. II. Mahavira and His Times: I: Some details about Parshva; Mahavira comes two hundred and fifty years after Parshva; A great flourish of religion in India; Increasing influence of the brahmanas and the privileges of the caste system; Virtual ending with Mahavira and Buddha of the abuses begotten of the privileges of the caste system; No anti-brahmana prejudices at the root of this great Indian revolution; A gradual change in the history of Indian thought and outlook on life. II: Jainism in general; Life of Mahavira; Exchange of embryo; Mahavira's parents are worshippers of Parshva and followers of the shramanas; Ascetic career of Mahavira; Mahavira's nudity and the interpretation of the Jaina canon; Mahavira's wanderings covered a wide area; The date of Mahavira's Nirvana, III: Origin of the world according to the Jainas; Jinas, the spiritual leaders of the Jainas; Jiva, Ajiva, Punya, Papa, Ashrava, Samvara, Bandha, Nirjara and Moksha; The way to Moksha lies through the Ratnatraya, or "the Three Jewels"; Samyag-Darshana (Right Belief), Samyag-Jnana (Right Knowledge) and Samyag-Caritra (Right Conduct); An absolved soul said to enjoy all the attributes of God; Tirthankaras and Kevalins or Samanya-Siddhas; Indication of the term Tirthankara; Ideal of Ahimsa; Two disciplines of Samayika and Pratikramana; Doctrine of Syadvada or Anekantavada. IV: Some of the most important schisms of the Jaina church; The seven Ninhagas or Ninhavas- Jamali, Tisagutta, Asadha, Ashvamitra, Ganga, Chalue, and Goshtamahila; Goshala Mankhaliputta, the most prominent rival of Mahavira; Relative position of Mankhaliputta in the great wave of religious enthusiasm in India; Dr Barua and the Ajivika sect of Goshala; Goshala's influence on the formulation of the reformed church of Mahavira; The date of Goshala's death; The Ajivika sect from an historical point of view; The second epoch-making division in the Jaina church; The Shvetambara and Digambara sects of the Jainas; Various traditions about the schism; General unanimity about the period of the schism; Root cause of the schism: Is nudity a necessary condition of saintship?; The Jainas and the cult of nudity; The chief points on which the two divisions do not agree; Mathura sculptures and the great schism; Two distinct divisions not in existence till the beginning of the Christian era; Final separation about the period of the great council at Vallabhi; The non-idolatrous sect and other minor divisions in the Jaina church; A mania for divisions a peculiarity of the Jainas; Reasons why Jainism is still a living sect. III. Jainism in Royal Families 800 - 200 BC: I. The epoch of Parshva; Jaina literature the only data for the period of Parshva; Royal patronage in the days of Parshva; Absence of all data from Parshva to Mahavira; A lacuna of two hundred and fifty years; The days of Mahavira; His father Siddhartha; The Videhans, the Licchavis, the Jnatrikas and the Vajjis of the Confederacy of the Vajjis or the Licchavis; Their relations with the Mallaki clans and the Ganarajas of Kashi-Koshala; All these clans had directly or indirectly come under the influence of Mahavira's teaching; The Videhans; The Licchavis; The Jnatrikas; The Vajjis; The Mallakins; The Ganarajas of Kashi-Koshala. II: The sixteen Mahajanapadas and the Jaina church; Empire of Magadha and its importance in the light of Jaina history; Different dynasties that rule over Magadha and the Jaina church; The Shaishunagas; The Nandas; The Mauryas. IV. Jainism in Kalinga-Desha: Jainism in Kalinga-desha is Jainism of the days of Kharavela; The Hathigumpha inscription the only historical source for Kharavela; Importance of Orissa in the light of Jaina history; Ruins neighbouring the Hathigumpha inscription; The Khandagiri and Udayagiri Hills honeycombed with caves or cells 151 mostly dating back to the second or third century bc; The Satbakhra, Navamuni and Ananta caves; The Barabhuji, Trishula and Lalatendu-keshari's caves; The Rani and Ganesha caves; The Jayavijaya, Swargapuri, Tiger and Serpent caves; Historical importance of this fragmentary evidence; Prominence given to Parshva; The Jaina temple on the Khandagiri Hill; The Hathigumpha inscription; The eighth line of the inscription and the date of Kharavela; Contents of the inscription; Kharavela and the Jina of Kalinga; Antiquity of Jainism in Kalinga; Kharavela and the Jaina religion. V. Mathura Inscriptions: After Kharavela comes Vikramaditya of Ujjain; Era of Vikrama and Siddhasena Divakara; Gardhabhilla, the predecessor of Vikrama, and Kalikacarya; Saint Kalaka and Satayana of Pratishthanapura; Siddhasena Divakara and his times; Padaliptacarya and the traditions connected with him; Traditional literature of the Jainas and the reality of Vikrama and his era; Mathura inscriptions and their importance in connection with the Jaina church; Kankali Tila the source of Jaina records of Mathura; Inscriptions connected with the Satraps of Mathura; Dated and undated Kushana inscriptions; Mathura inscriptions and their importance in the light of the history of the Jaina church. VI. State of Jainism During the Gupta Period: Historical background from the Kushanas down to the advent of the Guptas; Extent of the Gupta Empire; State of religion during the Gupta period; Epigraphic evidence of the sympathy of the Guptas towards the Jainas; The Kuvalayamala tradition and the Jaina chronicle of the Gupta period; Rise of the Vallabhis and the end of the Guptas; Dhruvasena I, the fourth in the Vallabhi list, and the end of the unrecorded period of Jaina history. VII. Jaina Literature of the North: Introductory remarks; The siddhanta of the Jainas; Digambara belief regarding the Shvetambara canon; Grounds in favour of the Shvetambaras; Fourteen Purvas; Twelve Angas; Twelve Upangas; Ten Painnas or Prakirnas; Six Chedasutras; Four Mulasutras; Two isolated texts; Language of the canon; Commentatorial works called the Nijjuttis or Niryuktis; Bhadrabahu the oldest commentator; Dharmadasagani the contemporary of Mahavira; Umasvati and his works; Siddhasena Divakara and Padaliptacarya the outstanding luminaries of Jaina literary history. VIII. Jaina Art in the North: Jainism finds its best expression in architecture; Some of the architectural and pictorial remains beyond our period; Those of our period; Certain characteristics of Indian art in general; Caves of Orissa - their artistic importance, etc; The institution of relic worship in the form of Stupas idolatry among and that of the Jainas; Remains in Mathura; Ayagapattas of Mathura; The Vodva Stupa built by the gods; Torana sculptures of Mathura; Ornamental slab showing Nemesa's feat. |
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DESCRIPTION |
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| This book concentrates on the origin of Jainism in north India and its evolution during 800 bc to ce 526 when, not yet crystallised into a set structure and codified into religious books, it retained a genuineness. This reprinted volume is now offered in a fresh state-of-the-art typeset. The photographs are improved versions of the earlier ones with more lustre and colour. Based on the original study of Jaina sources and involving criticism of various opinions, the study establishes Jainism as the most powerful religion of the north from the days of Parshva (800 bc) to the Kushana and the Gupta periods and even the Vallabhi kings. It begins with Jainism’s antiquity with reference to Parshva’s historicity and scrutinises references to Jainism in Hindu and Buddhist literature. It discusses the life of Mahavira and the Jaina religious philosophy that developed under him and later it traces the influence of Jainism on royal dynasties and clans that held sway from 800 to 200 bc. It views the arrival and growth of Jainism in Kalinga region by studying numerous evidences in caves, temples and inscriptions. It specially reviews Jaina literature and art in north India. A detailed perspective is offered of crucial aspects like the date of Mahavira’s nirvana by consulting a host of Jaina religious literature and modern scholarly studies. The volume will benefit scholars and students of Indology, and of Indian religions in particular. |
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