adequate samples
of Jaina literature easily persuaded themselves that it was an offshoot
of Buddhism, and even Indians unacquainted with Jaina
literature are often found to commit the same mistake. But it
has now been proved beyond doubt that this idea is wrong
and Jainism is at least as old as Buddhism. The oldest Buddhist
works frequently mention the Jains as a rival sect, under their
old name Nigantha and their leader Nataputta Varddhamana
Mahavira, the last prophet of the Jains. The canonical books of
the Jains mention as contemporaries of Mahavira the same kings
as reigned during Buddha's career.

Thus Mahavira was a contemporary of Buddha, but unlike
Buddha he was neither the author of the religion nor the founder
of the sect, but a monk who having espoused the Jaina creed
afterwards became the seer and the last prophet (Tirtha@nkara) of
Jainism[Footnote ref 1]. His predecessor Pars'va, the last Tirtha@nkara but
one, is said to have died 250 years before Mahavira, while Pars'va's
predecessor Ari@s@tanemi is said to have died 84,000 years before
Mahavira's Nirva@na. The story in _Uttaradhyayanasutra_ that a
disciple of Pars'va met a disciple of Mahavira and brought about
the union of the old Jainism and that propounded by Mahavira
seems to suggest that this Pars'va was probably a historical person.

According to the belief of the orthodox Jains, the Jaina religion
is eternal, and it has been revealed again and again in every one
of the endless succeeding periods of the world by innumerable
Tirthankaras. In the present period the first Tirtha@nkara was
@R@sabha and the last, the 24th, was Vardhamana Mahavira. All

__________________________________________________________________

[Footnote 1: See Jacobi's article on Jainism, _E. R.E._]

170

Tirtha@nkaras have reached mok@sa at their death, and they
neither care for nor have any influence on worldly affairs, but yet
they are regarded as "Gods" by the Jains and are worshipped [Footnote ref
1].

Two Sects of Jainism [Footnote ref 2].

There are two main sects of Jains, S'vetambaras (wearers of
white cloths) and Digambaras (the naked). They are generally
agreed on all the fundamental principles of Jainism. The tenets
peculiar to the Digambaras are firstly that perfect saints such as
the Tirtha@nkaras live without food, secondly that the embryo of
Mahavira was not removed from the womb of Devananda to that
of Tris'ala as the S'vetambaras contend, thirdly