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XXVIII On Inscriptions at Temples of the Jaina Sect in South Bihar. By 

 H. T. CoLEBROOKE, Esq., Dtr. R.A.S. 



Read November 18, 1826. 



As connected with the subject of an essay on the Srdwacs or Jainas, 

 read at a former meeting, I lay before the Society copies of inscriptions 

 found by Dr. Buchanan Hamilton in South Bihar. Though not ancient, 

 they may be considered to be of some importance, as confirming the pre- 

 valence of a Jaifia tradition relative to the site of the spot where the last 

 of the Jinas terminated his earthly existence, and as identifying the first 

 of his disciples with Gautama, wliose death and apotheosis took place, 

 according to current belief, in the same neighbourhood. 



In the Calpa-siitra and in other books of the Jainas, the first of MahavIra's 

 disciples is mentioned under the name of Indra bh6ti : but, in the in- 

 scription, under that of Gautama swami. The names of the other ten 

 precisely agree : whence it is to be concluded, the Gautama, first of one 

 Hst, is the same with Indra bh6ti, first of the other. 



I subjoin Dr. Buchanan Hamilton's account of the temples and their 

 situation, where these inscriptions were found, with such other information 

 as was collected by liim concerning the Srdwacs or Jainas in the same pro- 

 vince (South Bihar). 



I have the satisfaction, also, of communicating to the Society, Colonel 

 William Francklin's description of the temple of Parswanat'ha, the pre- 

 ceding Jina, erected on the supposed site of his apotheosis likewise. 



It is certainly probable, as reinarked by Dr. Hamilton and Major Dela- 

 maine, that the Gautama of the Jainas and of the Bauddhas is the same 

 personage : and this leads to the further surmise, that both these sects are 

 branches of one stock. According to the Jainas, only one of Mahavi'ra's 

 eleven disciples left spiritual successors : that is, the entire succession of 

 Jaina priests is derived from one individual, Sudharma swami. Two only 

 out of eleven survived Mahavira, viz. Indra bh6ti and Sudharma :• the 



* As. Res., ix. p. 313. 



