Jaina Tradition Of Tirthankaras

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided pages from "Jaina Tradition of Tirthankaras" by Dr. Vilas A. Sangave:

The book "Jaina Tradition of Tirthankaras" by Dr. Vilas A. Sangave, published by the USA Federation of JAINA, explores the foundational concept of Tirthankaras in Jainism and establishes the religion's ancient origins.

The Tirthankara Tradition:

• Jainism is presented as an ancient Indian religion propagated by 24 great spiritual teachers known as "Tirthankaras," meaning "ford-makers" across the cycle of existence.
• This tradition begins with the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, and culminates with the 24th, Mahavira.
• The 24 Tirthankaras form a continuous lineage, meaning the religion first preached by Rishabha was continually re-promulgated by subsequent Tirthankaras throughout history.
• Crucially, Mahavira is not the founder of Jainism but a promulgator and great preacher of the religion that had existed for ages. Historians confirm that Mahavira did not found Jainism but preached an existing ancient faith.

Historicity of the Jaina Tradition:

• The historicity of the Tirthankara tradition is supported by both literary and archaeological evidence.
• Early 20th-century scholars initially considered Mahavira an imaginary figure, then a historical figure but the founder and a revolt against Brahmanism.
• Recent scholarship has dispelled these notions, establishing Mahavira as a promulgator of a religion already prevalent in ancient India, particularly Eastern India.
• Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara (877-777 B.C.), is identified as Mahavira's predecessor who preached Jainism. His historicity is well-established. He was the son of King Vishvasena and Queen Vamadevi of Kashi, lived as an ascetic, attained omniscience, and attained Nirvana at Sammet Shikhara. Eminent historians like Vincent Smith, R.C. Majumdar, and R.K. Mookarji recognize Parshvanatha as a historical figure.
• Nemi-natha (Arishtanemi), the 22nd Tirthankara, is also considered historically verifiable. He was a cousin of Lord Krishna of the Mahabharata. An incident highlights his great compassion towards animals: on his wedding day, upon hearing the cries of animals destined for slaughter, he renounced marriage and the world, becoming an ascetic. His betrothed, Princess Rajimati, also became a nun. Nemi-natha attained Nirvana on Mount Girnar. The historicity of Krishna and the Mahabharata war implies the historicity of Nemi-natha. Inscriptional evidence, including a Babylonian King Nebuchadnazzar I's copper plate grant and Mathura Jaina antiquities, further supports Nemi-natha's historical existence.

Jaina Tradition and Buddhism:

• Buddhist literature acknowledges Mahavira as a contemporary of Gautama Buddha but always refers to him as "Nigantha Nataputta" (naked ascetic of the Jnatri clan), never as the founder of Jainism.
• Buddhism views Jainism as an ancient religion, not a new one.
• Buddhist texts mention Jaina ascetics, the worship of Arhats in Jaina temples, and the "Chaturyama Dharma" (fourfold religion) of Parshvanatha.
• Significantly, Buddhist literature names several Jaina Tirthankaras, including Rishabhadeva, Padmaprabha, Chandraprabha, Pushpadanta, Vimala-natha, Dharma-natha, and Nemi-natha.
• The Buddhist book "Dharmottarapradipa" mentions Rishabhadeva alongside Mahavira as an "Apta" (Tirthankara). The "Dhammikasutta" refers to Arishtanemi (Nemi-natha) as one of the six Tirthankaras.
• The text suggests that Buddhist concepts like the numbers and names of Buddhas, Paccekabuddhas, and Bodhisattvas may have been influenced by the Jaina Tirthankara tradition, citing examples like Ajita (2nd Jaina Tirthankara) and Padma (6th Jaina Tirthankara).

Jaina Tradition and Hinduism:

• Hindu scriptures also accept the tradition of 24 Tirthankaras.
• Hindus acknowledge Rishabhadeva as the founder of Jainism, placing him at the commencement of the world. They consider him a divine person and an incarnation of Vishnu.
• The parentage of Rishabhadeva (father Nabhiraja, mother Marudevi) is the same in both Jaina and Hindu traditions. Hindus also agree that India is named "Bharata-Varsha" after Rishabhadeva's eldest son, Bharata.
• The Rig Veda clearly references Rishabha and Arishtanemi. The Yajur Veda mentions Rishabha, Ajitanatha, and Arishtanemi.
• The Atharva Veda mentions the "Vratyas" sect, interpreted as Jainas due to their adherence to vows, contrasting with the sacrificial practices of Hindus at the time. The term "Maha-Vratya" is believed to refer to Rishabhadeva as the great leader of the Vratyas.
• Later Hindu Puranic literature, such as the Vishnupurana and Bhagavat-Purana, recounts Rishabha's story as an incarnation of Narayana, preceding the ten avataras of Vishnu, with the life history being identical to that in Jaina literature. This confirms Rishabhadeva's importance and life from a Hindu perspective.
• The Hindu tradition of regarding Rishabhadeva (and not Mahavira) as an incarnation of God further supports Rishabhadeva as the founder of Jainism.

Jaina Tradition and Archaeological Evidence:

• Historical references suggest Rishabhadeva as the true founder of Jainism.
• Archaeological evidence indicates that people were worshipping Rishabhadeva as early as the 1st century B.C.
• King Kharvela of Kalinga's invasion of Magadha in 161 B.C. involved recovering a statue of the first Jaina (Rishabhadeva) that had been taken from Kalinga three centuries earlier by King Nanda I. This implies Rishabhadeva was worshipped in the 5th century B.C.
• The absence of statues of Mahavira or Parshvanatha from the 5th century B.C., contrasted with the early references to Rishabhadeva's statues, strengthens the argument for Rishabhadeva being the founder.
• Archaeological findings from the Indus Valley Civilization (Bronze Age) also support the antiquity of the Jaina tradition and the worship of Rishabhadeva alongside other deities, suggesting the prevalence of Jainism in that ancient period.
• Scholars like Dr. Radha Kumud Mookarji and Gustav Roth support the presence of the Jaina tradition in this early period.
• Major J.G.R. Forlong posits that Jainism was a highly organized religion existing from unknown times, from which Brahmanism and Buddhism later developed, and that 22 Tirthankaras preached it before the Aryans reached the Ganges.
• Dr. Zimmerman strongly asserts the truth in the Jaina claim of their religion's remote antiquity, dating it to the Pre-Aryan era.

In essence, the book argues strongly for the profound antiquity of Jainism, firmly rooted in the Tirthankara tradition, with Rishabhadeva identified as the original founder and Mahavira as a later, significant promulgator. This historicity is substantiated by a convergence of literary evidence from both Jaina and non-Jaina traditions (Buddhist and Hindu) and significant archaeological findings.