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This article describes a Timeline of Jainism, a religion practiced mainly by about five million people in India. ==Origins== The views regarding Origins of Jainism are disputed among various scholars. Jains believe their religion to be ever-existing, having no origin and end. It is occasionally forgotten by humans and revived by a succession of ''tirthankara''. The existence of Pārśva (c. 877–777 BCE), the twenty-third ''tirthankara'', is the earliest Jain leader now accepted as a historical figure. The existence of Mahavira, the last ''tirthankara'', is known because of his mention by Jaina and Buddhist scriptures. Kailash Chandra Jain states that Mahavira was a reformer of Jain faith which was probably founded by Pārśva. Evidence for the existence of the first twenty-two tirthankara is scanty. The Bhagavata Purana, an ancient Hindu text, mentions Rishabha, the first Jain ''tirthankara''. Various seals from Indus Valley Civilization bear resemblance to Rishabha and extensive use of the symbol of Bull might show the prevalence of Jainism in Indus Valley Civilization. The presence of Jainism in ancient India is supported by scholars like Dr. Radha Kumud Mookerji, Gustav Roth, Prof. A. Chakravarti, Prof. Ram Prasad Chanda, T. N. Ramchandran, I. Mahadevan and Kamta Prasad Jain. Recently, Acarya Vidyanaji claimed the prevalence of Jainism in ancient India c. 3000 BCE through detailed research on various artifacts, seals and other relics from Indus Valley Civilization.〔 Another noted indologist, Herman Jacobi writes: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, scholar and second President of India, was of the opinion that Jainism was in existence long before the Vedas were composed. Scholars like Dr. Radhakrishnan, Hiralal Jain, Zimmer, Jacobi, Vincent Smith and Major-General J.G.R. furlong have established that Jainism is, without doubt, an ancient religion of India which is not a sect or sub-sect of any other religion. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Timeline of Jainism」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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