Dear Sri Raghavan, Forerunners of modern day Jainism (Shramana dharmam) definitely existed during Mahabharata time. My understanding is Shramana dharmam and Hindu dharmam co-existed all the time. They together constitute the sanathana dharma. It is hard to say which came first. They are like two strands of DNA! Or two sides of a coin. Many wrongly think that Jainism started with Mahavira (also ~500 BC). Mahavira was the last and 24 th Thirthankara. Buddhism is a different matter. It definitely was started by Buddha (~ 500 BC). However, it is possible that there are additions to our scriptures that may have been made after Buddha's time. Many argue that the first chapter of Bhagavadgita is one such additions showing the impracticality of Buddhism. Buddhism is not for everyone. It may be a universal religion, but not universally applicable! The ONLY religion that is universally applicable are the fundamental concepts of Hinduism: Truth is one , sages call it by different names: ekam sadviprAh bahudA vadanti. Let noble thoughts come ti us from everywhere: AnO bhadrAh kratavO yantu vishvatah. The world is one family (Everyone and everything are connected): Vasudhaiva kuTumbhakam Hindu Sub-sects, including Srivaishnavism are not universally applicable. One shoe or one panty fits all makes the whole world quite silly, absurd, foolish and ackward! If you don't trust me simply watch any of the TV evangelists or Swamis. They make for the best and most seriously funny show ever! dAsan K. Sreekrishna Tatachar ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/VkWolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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