The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c18.59

v1.c18.59

In the preceding pages an attempt has been made to give a brief sketch of the history of the Jain church from its foundation or reformation by Mahāvīra about 500 b.c. down to the beginning of our era. While we possess materials which enable us to construct a fairly clear biography of the prophet, and while we have at least some information concerning the events which preceded and were contemporary with the beginning of the great separation between Çvetāmbaras and Digambaras about 300 b.c., the following period is almost totally devoid of any historical record. And this is not the only blank in Jain ecclesiastical history. Scarcely more is known concerning the fate of the Jain church during the early centuries of our era down to the time of the great council of Valabhī, in the fifth or at the beginning of the sixth century a.d., when the canon was written down in its present form. The Jain church has never had a very great number of adherents; it has never attempted—at least not on any grand scale—to preach its doctrines through missionaries outside India. Never rising to an overpowering height but at the same time never sharing the fate of its rival, Buddhism, that of complete extinction in its native land, it has led a quiet existence through the centuries and has kept its place amongst the religious systems of India till the present day, thanks to its excellent organisation and to its scrupulous care for the preservation of ancient customs, institutions, and doctrine.