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Historicity of Jain Tirthankars

Was one of the tirthankaras a cousin of Shri Krishna? Yes, Lord Neminath, the 22nd tirthankara, was a cousin of Shri Krishna; both were born in the Yadu clan. ...

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Historicity of Jain Tirthankars

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    Slide 1:Historicity of Jain Tirthankars

    Yashwant K. Malaiya JAINA Convention, San Jose July 2, 2005

    Slide 2:Historicity of Jain Tirthankars

    Antiquity of Jainism: Tradition and history Tirthankaras in Brahmin and Buddhist books The Shramana tradition Historicity of Lord Neminath, Parshvanath &Mahavira Archaeological evidence and Indus Valley Civilization

    Slide 3:Outline

    History and tradition Historical analysis Texts and archaeological Oral and written tradition The Shramana tradition Jain: before and after Mahavira Ajivaka: Goshalaka and others Buddhist: Gautam and other Buddhas, Devadatta The Brahmanical tradition Vedic and Puranic Archaeological Evidence

    Slide 4:Historical Analysis

    Tradition vs. history Tradition: Oral and written History: critical analysis, academic Sources of information Texts (tradition) Archaeological objects and inscriptions Critical analysis Cross-checking Self-chcking

    Slide 5:Example: My genealogy

    I compiled my family history 35 years ago. Oral tradition: interviewed several people from my grandfathers generation, and two from a previous generation Cross-checked facts Hard evidence Sacks of old letters Inscribed pots and pans with ancestors initials: HT Great-great-grandfathers name only available through my grandfathers memory. I accept this oral tradition.

    Slide 6:Tradition vs. History

    Traditions becomes history: Kalpasutra sthiravali was only tradition until Mathura excavations in 1884-1896. Ganas, shakhas etc mentioned were confirmed by Kushana (78-176 CE) inscriptions. Tradition lost but history found: No tradition about King Kharvela of Kalinga. Known only from Hathigumpha inscription. Both tradition and archaeological finds provide occasional samples, from which history is constructed.

    Slide 7:The 24 Jinas

    Swetambara: Logassa Sutra (Avashyaka sutra) Digambara: Thossami Thudi (Tirthankara)

    Slide 8:Identifying the Tirthankaras: Rishabha & Parshva

    Slide 9:Identifying the Tirthankaras: Lanchhanas (post-Gupta)

    Slide 10:Ancient Idols from Mathura

    Images identified using inscriptions & hair/hood: Ayagapatta: Parshva Panel: Diksha of Rishabha Kushana period (78-176 CE): Seated: Vardhamana, Sambhava, Suvrata, Rishabha, Arishtanemi, Parshva Standing: Vardhamana, Arishtanemi, Parshva 4-sided: Parshva and Rishabha identifiable on most of them

    Slide 11:Vardhamana-Mahavira

    Last Jina (599 BCE-527 BCE) Nirvana at Pava Founder of Nirgranth order Mentioned as Niggantha Nataputta in Buddhist texts His Nirvana at Pava mentioned in Buddhist texts

    Slide 12:The Parshva Tradition

    Parshva: 23rd Jina (10th cent BCE) Keshi of Parshva tradition met Gautam, disciple of Mahavira and discussed differences in doctarines Other accounts of Parshvatha monks in Lord Mahviras time Historicity accepted

    Slide 13:ShramanTraditions

    Prior and later existence of the three shraman traditions! Mahavira Gautam Goshal Others Jain Buddhist Ajivika Jain Buddhist Ajivika

    Slide 14:Former Buddhas

    Jataka: Gautam was 25th Buddha Last 8 at Ajanta Phussa, Vipassi, Sikhi, Vessabhu, Kakusandha, Konagamana, Kassapa, and Gotama Ashoka erected pillar at Konagamans (23rd) birth site in 249 BCE at Nigligawa.

    Slide 15:Devadata

    Cousin of Siddhartha, important leader of Buddhas order Demanded Vegetarianism, must beg for food Live in forests, not monastaries No new clothes Split and formed separate order What happened to his order?

    Slide 16:Chinese Visitors

    Faxian (Fahsien), visited India 399-414 Xuangzang (Huan Tsang), from 629-645 AD They found Devadattas monks! Worshipped at earlier Buddhas stupas but not Gautams!

    Slide 17:Ajivikas: Makkhali Goshal

    Mentioned in Bhagavati Sutra, Avashyaka Sutra Churni, and Buddhist Samannaphala Sutta etc. Follower of Mahavira for 6 years Joined Ajivikas and became their leader Ajivika order existed before him Encounter with Gautam Buddha Names of his predecessors available!

    Slide 18:Ajivikas

    Some Ajivikas were friendly towards Buddhist monks Ajivika informs Mahakassapa of Nirvana Ajivikas survived until 12-15th century CE!

    Slide 19:Vedas/Upanishads/Puranas

    Vedic Sanskrit Many passages directly or indirectly mention about Tirthankaras Can be translated differently All Brahmin Puranas mention Nabhi, Rishabha, Bharata. Bhagavata Purana in most detail.

    Slide 20:Vedas

    Ach. Hemachandra: Jinas mentioned in Vedas Mentions misinterpreted or deleted Dr. Radhakrishnan: Yajurveda: Rishabha, Ajit, Arishtanemi Rigveda: Vrashabha, Pashupati, Keshi Rishabha = Pashupati in vedic texts Keshi: chief of Vatarashana munis =Rishabha TN Ramachandran: Shishnadeva =Rishabh

    Slide 21:Srimat Bhagavat Canto 5

    Chap 3:Rishabhadeva's Appearance in the Womb of Merudev, the Wife of King Nbhi Chap 4:The Characteristics of Rishabhadeva Thus .. most exalted in as well his bodily features as in having all the qualities as described by the poets, did the father thus give Him because of His strength, beauty, fame, .., the name Rishabha, the best one. Of his sones was indeed the eldest, Bharata, a great practitioner of yoga; he had the best qualities and it was he of whom this land was called Bhrata-varsha by the people.

    Slide 22:Srimat Bhagavat Canto 5

    5: Lord Rishabhadeva's Teachings to His Sons Lord Rishabha said: 'My dear sons: This body carried by all within this material world is worth the trouble of the austerities and penances for the sake of the divine from which the heart becomes purified and for certain an unending spiritual happiness is found. Although He remained with what He was at home, accepted He, only physically, like a madman with his hair unkempt, the sky for His .dress and roamed He, .., far and wide from Brahmvarta.

    Slide 23:Srimat Bhagavat Canto 5

    6: Lord Rishabhadeva's Activities Lord Rishabhadeva who Himself was free from any vital interest. He on His own traveled the lands of South India: Konka, Venka and Kuthaka in the province of Karnta, and reached a forest nearby Kuthakcala. There .. He wandered around naked and with scatted hair. With a fierce forest fire blazing all around that was caused by the friction of bamboo's tossed by the force of the wind, was His body then in that forest burned to ashes. Hearing of His pastimes of being free from all ritual and custom, took the king of Konka, Venka and Kuthaka who carried the name Arhat to an imitation of them

    Slide 24:Mohenjodaro Harappa

    Seals: Kayotsarga & Padmasan Correspondence: seals with lanchhanas Chanda, Mukerjee, Joseph Campbell etc.: Jain

    Slide 25:Mohenjodaro, Lohanipur, Chausa

    Mohenjodaro: 3000-1500 BCE Lohanipur: Maurya 300 BCE, Chausa: 1st C CE

    Slide 26:Conclusions

    Tradition and Historicity: connected Lord Mahavira was not the founder of Jainism. Several branches of Sraman tradition existed before his time. Existence of former Tirthankaras consistent with evidence Future discoveries are possible!

    Slide 27:Questions

    Some of the questions asked by the audience: Was one of the tirthankaras a cousin of Shri Krishna? Yes, Lord Neminath, the 22nd tirthankara, was a cousin of Shri Krishna; both were born in the Yadu clan. Wasnt one of the tirthankaras a woman? According to Shvetamabara tradition, Lord Mallinath (19th) was female. In Digambara tradition, Lord Mallinath is male.

    Slide 28:Questions

    Historically, when did Lord Rishabha live? In historical analysis, cross-checking is needed for establishing a date satisfactorily. Any cross-checking is not possible for events before Lord Mahavira. The Mahabharata war is perhaps the earliest event that we can attempt to date, about 1000-1200 BCE; that corresponds to Lord Nemi, the 22nd Tirthankara. What does the term Shraman mean? A shraman is a wandering monk, the term is applicable to Jain and Buddhist monks. The shraman tradition includes Jain, Buddhist and other associated traditions, as opposed to the Vedic/Brahmanical tradition.

    Slide 29:Questions

    There is a view that Jainism represents the Dravidian culture as opposed to the Vedas which represent the Aryan culture. Indian culture is a synthesis of both Aryan and Dravidian cultures. Lord Rishabh and several of the other Tirthankaras were born in the well-known aryan Ikshvaku clan, and some of the acharyas are called Arya. Were the Tirthankaras married or unmarried? Some of the Tirthankaras were not married, others were married. Lord Rishabh had two famous sons, Bharat Chakri and Lord Bahubali.

    Slide 30:Discussion

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