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JOURNAL R. a. s. (ceylon), [Vol. VII., Pt. III. 



Tantra literature it occurs as a concrete fossilised ceremony* 

 In the Bhagavat Gfta, the scriptures of all the sects of the 

 Hindus, Nirvana is the predominant aspirationf ; it is cherished 

 by the present generation of the pious Hindus ; it is a prominent 

 idea in their sacred music 4 



There are two schools of Jainas — the Digambara and Sve- 

 tambara ; both propound a view of Nirvana. The ground-basis 

 of their theology and metaphysics is the same as that of the 

 Buddhists. § But they do not carry their doctrines to all 

 their consequences. Rationalistic in their feeling and aspiration, 

 they are to a certain extent conservative in their practices and 

 customs. Their literature || is extensive, intricate, and varied — 

 a literature which throws a great deal of light upon the subject 

 of Nirvana. 



Nirvana is a central doctrine of Buddhistic theology 

 and metaphysics. The Buddhistic literature of Nepala, the 

 Tibetan Buddhistic literature, the Burmah Buddhistic litera- 

 ture, the Chinese Buddhistic literature, the Ceylon Buddhistic 

 literature — all these have been opened up to scholars by 

 Brian Hodgson, by Cosmo Koros, by Bigandet, by Beal and by 

 Hardy. 



Indian Buddhism, though extinct as a living system, is 

 still important on account of the writings of the different 

 A' chary as of the different schools. The dicta uttered by the 

 Yoga-charyas, the Sontrantikas the Vaibhasikas, and the 



* In the Agni Purana this ceremony isj described because it is an attempt 

 at an Encyclopaedia of the Brahmanic science, history and philosophy, 

 f See (V. 25. and VI. 15.) of the Bhagavat Gita. 



I See an Abhanga of Tukaram :— Nirvanicha eka Panduranga. See 

 the Prabodha Chandrodaya which describes the doings of Chatainya of 

 Bengala. 



§ The Jainas recognize karma or eternal activity as the Bauddhas do. 

 They discard the notion of god and sacrifice as the Bauddhas do. They believe 

 in the eternity of religious truth which they state is revealed from time to 

 time as the Bauddhas do. They uphold the doctrine of metemsyphosis as the 

 Bauddhas do. Both maintain pain to be positive. 



|| There are large Jaina libraries in Ahmadabad, and in some towns of 

 the Karnatic, 



