346 Lieut.-Colonel Mixes on the Jainas of Gujerat and Marwar. 
The priests appear fond of controversy, and I have often heard of books 
written by them exposing the absurdity of Hindi doctrines; but from what 
I have seen, their ridicule is levelled at the commonly-received opinions 
of the Hindis in general, not at those of any particular sect. 
The Brahmans generally detest the Jainas, especially their priests. 
That the Jaina religion was introduced into tne west of India from the 
east, is, I conceive, sufficiently evident from the circumstance that the 
language in which the Jaina Sutras or sacred books are written, the 
Migadha-bhishd, is a dialect of the Sanscrit, understood to have been at a 
remote period that of the most eastern provinces of India, but of the precise 
period at which it was introduced into that part of India little can be 
said. 
Some circumstances, however, of importance in the elucidation of these 
points, are admitted by all the sects of Jainas with whom I am acquainted. 
By their Patdvalis, or the history of the succession of their high priests, it 
appears that in 845, dating from the deification of ManAvira, or Samvat 
375, a Sd@’hu, named DévAput CuamAsamna, first wrote the A gamasitras, 
or holy books of the Jainas, on the leaves of the palm tree.* 
Before this time none of them were committed to writing, they having 
always been retained in the memory of their priests, and taught and trans- 
mitted from Sdd’hu to Sdd’hu orally.t 
The date of this occurrence is stated by the Leinca Patiévali to be 980 
years after Manavira, or 510 from VicramApitya. One set of these books is 
said to be still preserved in the library at Jessalmir. 
In the Tappé Jaina Patdvali it is further stated, that in the 984th year 
after ManAvira, or 514 of the Vicrama era, CAtca A’cuArya, by order of 
Inpra (one of the Lords of their Dévatds), wrote the Jaina-Sidw’hantas or 
holy books, denominated the eleven angas and twelve upéngas. 
It is also stated in the same Patdvali or history, that in the year 535 of 
the Vicrama era, Narasinna Str A’cuArya brought one hundred and 
forty-four (some say 1,444) copies of the religious works of the Buddhists 
from the country east of Bengal to the western part of India. Some Jainas 
* The reason of this is stated to be, that the memories of the priests in that degenerate age 
became gradually impaired, and they were apprehensive lest the principles of their religion 
should be forgotten and lost. 
+ Similar to the customs of the Druids. 
