CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I | |
| Page | |
| INTRODUCTORY | 1 |
| The ideal of Indian thought death, not life—Attraction of asceticism—Revolt against Brāhman exclusiveness—Rise of Buddhist and Jaina orders. | |
| CHAPTER II | |
| HISTORICAL SUMMARY | 7 |
| The sixth century—Mahāvīra—Order of Pārśvanātha—Sudharma and his successors—The great famine and consequent migration under Bhadrabāhu to Mysore—Sthūlabhadra and the Council of Pāṭaliputra—The Canon of Scriptures—The nudity question—Idolatry—Suhastin—Disruption into Śvetāmbara and Digambara sects—Council of Vallabhi—The Scriptures—Zenith of Jainism—Decline under Mohammedan and Śaiva persecution—Rise of Sthānakavāsī sect—Modern conditions. | |
| CHAPTER III | |
| THE LIFE OF MAHĀVĪRA | 21 |
| Birthplace—The fourteen dreams—Birth—Childhood legends—Initiation—Pārśvanātha's Order—Legends of Mahāvīra's asceticism—Enlightenment— Preaching—Death—Previous incarnations. | |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| MAHĀVĪRA'S PREDECESSORS AND DISCIPLES | 48 |
| Pārśvanātha—The Four Vows of Pārśvanātha—The twenty-two earlier Tirthaṅkara:—Ṛiṣabhadeva—Ajitanātha—Sambhavanātha—Abhinandana—Sumatinātha—Padmaprabhu—Supārśvanātha—Ċandraprabhu—Suvidhinātha—Śitaḷanātha—Śreyāṁsanātha—Vāsupūjya—Vimaḷanātha—Anantanātha—Dharmanātha—Śāntinātha—Kunthunātha—Aranātha—Mallinātha—Munisuvrata—Naminātha—Neminātha—The Followers of Mahāvīra:—Gośāla—Gautama Indrabhūti—Sermon by Mahāvīra—Sudharma. | |
