Early Sources of the Jaina Tradition
A Critical Survey Revealing Parsva, the 23rd Tirtha?kara, as a Legendary Figure
1st Edition
Published on 18. November 2025
278 pages
978-1-317-68396-4 (ISBN)
Description
Early Sources of the Jaina Tradition reconstructs the history of the early Jaina tradition through a close study of the available textual sources. It focuses on Parsvanatha, one of the 24 Jinas that are identified by the Jaina tradition as its main religious leaders of the current time cycle.
It is a commonly accepted hypothesis of nineteenth-century scholarship that Parsvanatha, the 23rd Jina, is a historical figure whose teachings were slightly modified by Mahavira, the 24th Jina. The book challenges this hypothesis by analysing a wide range of textual sources, some of which have never been examined in the academic literature. The author shows that the teachings and narratives associated with Parsvanatha are the result of a construction related to a reform movement sometime after Mahavira. The work included a re-assessment of key terms and concepts of the early Jaina texts and Jaina chronology.
Presenting an innovative analysis and a new interpretation of Jaina sources, this work is an invaluable contribution to studies of South Asian History and Religion.
It is a commonly accepted hypothesis of nineteenth-century scholarship that Parsvanatha, the 23rd Jina, is a historical figure whose teachings were slightly modified by Mahavira, the 24th Jina. The book challenges this hypothesis by analysing a wide range of textual sources, some of which have never been examined in the academic literature. The author shows that the teachings and narratives associated with Parsvanatha are the result of a construction related to a reform movement sometime after Mahavira. The work included a re-assessment of key terms and concepts of the early Jaina texts and Jaina chronology.
Presenting an innovative analysis and a new interpretation of Jaina sources, this work is an invaluable contribution to studies of South Asian History and Religion.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
4 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder
3 Tables, black and white
File size
3,14 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-317-68396-4 (9781317683964)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Bansidhar Bhatt
Early Sources of the Jaina Tradition
A Critical Survey Revealing Parsva, the 23rd Tirtha?kara, as a Legendary Figure
Book
approx. 11/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€205.80
Not yet published
Person
Bansidhar Bhatt was Lecturer in Sanskrit at L.D. Arts College in Ahmedabad, India,1956-1969, PhD student and researcher at the Free University Berlin, Germany, 1969-1976, Government of India Pool Officer at Jaipur University, India, 1976-1977, Professor of Indology and Mahavira Chair for Jaina Studies at Panjab University in Patiala, India,1977-1985, and Lector for Hindi and Gujarati at the University of Muenster, Germany, 1985-1995. One of the most erudite Indologists of his generation, he specialised in the comparative study of early Jaina texts and philosophy. His most important book publications are The Canonical Nik?epa: Studies in Jaina Dialectics (Leiden 1978), Jnana-Gangotri: Collected Research Articles of Prof. Dr. Bansidhar Bhatt (Ahmedabad 2005), and the present study.
Content
Chapter I: Introductory
Chapter II: Parsva's legendary character investigated
Chapter III: The terms vrata and yama
Chapter IV: Jinas' lifespans and Jinantaras
Chapter V: Relevant issues
Summary
Appendices
Chapter II: Parsva's legendary character investigated
Chapter III: The terms vrata and yama
Chapter IV: Jinas' lifespans and Jinantaras
Chapter V: Relevant issues
Summary
Appendices
