Early Sources of the Jaina Tradition

Looking at the early history of Jainism, from 6th century BCE onwards, this book focuses on one of the 24 Jinas that are identified as the main religious leaders of Jainism. It is a commonly accepted hypothesis that Parsvanatha, the 23rd Jina, is an historical figure whose values were modified by Mahavira, the 24th Jina. The book challenges this hypothesis by analysing a wide range of textual sources, some of which have never been examined in the context of the 23rd Jina.