286 SKETCH OF THE 



a Hindu.* In the South of India, indeed, the Jains preserve the distinc- 

 tion of castes : in Upper India, they profess to be of one caste, or Vaisyas. 

 It is very clear, however, that admission to the Jain communion was 

 originally independent of caste, ~\ and the partial adoption of it or preten- 

 sion to it, is either a spontaneous or politic conformity to the strong 

 feeling on the subject which prevails amongst all Hindus. 



These are the great outlines of the rise and progress of the sect, as 

 derivable from sources entitled to credit; but the Jams have amongst them- 

 selves records of sectarial value, detailing the succession of different teach- 

 ers, and the origin of various heresies. Some extracts from one of these 

 attached to a copy of the Kalpa Sutra, may be acceptable. 



The succession of teachers is always deduced from Mahavira, 

 through his disciple Sudherma. Of the rest, all but Gautama died 

 before their Master, as has been observed above, and Gautama survived 

 him but a month, which he spent in penance and fasting. Sudherma, 

 therefore, was the only one who remained competent to impart instruc- 

 tion. His pupil was JambuswXm!, the last of the Kevalis, or possessors of 

 true wisdom: six teachers follow, termed Sruta Kevalis, or hearers of the 

 first masters, and then seven others, Dasapurvis, from having been taught 

 the works so named.j These are common to all the lists when correct. 



* Transactions Royal Asiatic Society, I. 549. 



-j- Mahavira himself was the son of a king, and should therefore be a Kshetriya. His chief 

 disciples, Indrabhuti, and the rest, were Brahmans. His especial attendant, Gosala, was an out- 

 caste, and his followers, of both sexes, were of every caste. 



\ The following are the names of the individuals alluded to in the text : 



SrutakevalIs. 

 Prabhava Sivdmi. 

 Sayyambkadra Sfiri. 

 Yasobhadra Suri. 

 Sambhuta Vijaya Surf. 

 Bhadrabahn Suri. 

 Sthulabhadra Suri. 



Dasap6rv{s. 

 Arya Mahdgiri Suri. 

 Arya Suhasti Suri. 

 Arya Susthita Suri. 

 Indradinna Suri. 

 Dinna Suri. 

 Sinhagiri Suri. 

 Vajraswdmi Suri. 



