Description
Ancient history of India reveals that there were two parallel traditions in India, viz. Vedic and Sramanic. The Sramana Tradition includes Jainism, Buddhism and others such as the Ajivikas and Ajtianas. Jain religious tradition is one of the oldest living religions of India. Historicity of 24th Tirthalikara Mahavira in sixth century BCE is well established. The Jain records mention the name of 23 tirtharikaras before Mahavira. Among them Par§vanatha was the 23rd and Neminatha was the 22nd. Pargvanatha is now acknowledged as a historical figure by a number of scholars. The existence of Pargva''s Order in Mahavira''s time is recorded as a discussion between the followers of Pargva (caturyama) and those of Mahavira (pancayama) in the Uttara-adhyayanasiitra.