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JOURNAL. R.A.S. (ceylon). [Vol. VIIL 



is known about Jainism that it is confounded with Bud- 

 dhism, of which it is considered to be a sect, though the 

 Buddhists, who call themselves ekamsikas, are opposed 

 diametrically to the Jainas, who call themselves anekdnta- 

 vddins. In this place, I cannot do more than point out this 

 new field of research likely to lead to important results." 



Jainism has thus much in common with Buddhism, but 

 its " Anekamsa" logic seems to be its most distinctive and 

 its most ancient characteristic. From the reference in 

 Jain works to " certain grammatical questions which Pani- 

 ni in relation to Sdkatdyana raises," and from the fact that 

 " the Sakatayana grammar is found in the possession of the 

 Southern Jainas," it appears that the "Anekamsika" philo- 

 sophy was known as early as the 4th century B.C. On the 

 other hand, it is clear that both Jainism and Buddhism as 

 well as Brahaminism — three opposed systems— existed side 

 by side until a comparatively late date, for " Sankaracharya, 

 who led the revival of Brahminism, and who is character- 

 ized as a concealed Buddhist, flourished about 700 A.D. 

 " Before this, flourished Kundakundacharya, a distinguished 

 Jain teacher, because a gana established by him is men- 

 tioned in Kirtivarma's inscription dated 584 A.D. Between 

 584 A.D. and 700 A.D. the Jainas energized. Amarsimha, 

 a Buddhistic lexicographer, flourished about the same time. 

 Hwen-thsang describes Buddhistic convents and their pros- 

 perity. Thus the three systems seem to have worked at 

 the same time — three systems opposed to each other." ! 

 Among the Brahmans, as well as among the Jains, there is j 

 a system of teaching, used by their Sannydsis or ascetics, 

 which is thus described :—" The Sannyasis in their hermit- 

 ages preach what they call pravackana, which signifies a 

 comment. Some Vedic gdthd or text is taken. A Puranaj 

 story, corresponding to an atita-vattku, follows, and a con-| 



elusion is stated." The Brahminic Kathas draw upon the 



stories of the Pur anas, these stories serving the purpose of 

 the atita-vatthus. "The Purana stories — the best and the] 

 most popular of them — have all the ring and the point off 

 the atita-vattku, as the Brahminical Katha-system shows." 

 ...... (i A katha consists of two parts, interluded by music. 



The first part is known as nirupaaa or veddnta, and dwells 

 at considerable length upon some religious doctrine or] 



