Articles on Indus Valley Archaeology
Mohenjo-Daro: Jaina Tradition and Evidence
By Acarya Vidyanandi · Jinamanjari, 1996
This article by Acarya Vidyanandi builds a strong argument that many spiritual, cultural, and iconographic features of the Indus Valley Civilization—especially those found at Mohenjo-Daro—are closely aligned with the Jaina tradition. The author contends that…
Laukika or Folk Religion as an Iconographic Link Between the Indus Culture and Jainism
By Robert Decaroli · Jinamanjari, 1996
Core Argument: Robert DeCaroli explores how laukika (folk/popular) religion acted as a bridge between the Indus Valley Civilization and emerging religious traditions, especially Jainism. The paper argues that iconographic motifs (trees, yaksas/yaksis, horns,…
Approaches to the Question of the Antiquity of Jainism
By Thomas Mcevilley · Jinamanjari, 1996
This scholarly article investigates the deep historical roots of Jainism, proposing that it likely predates Buddhism and possibly draws from even older, non-Aryan traditions such as the Indus Valley civilization and Ajivika practices. 🔍 Key Themes and…
Looking for Evidence of Early Jainas Archaeology, Folk Religion, and Women
By Christopher Key Chapple, Thomas Mcevilley, Robert Decaroli · Jinamanjari, 1996
This article explores the potential connections between the early Jaina tradition and archaeological, folk, and gender-related evidence from India's ancient past. It compares the eternalist cosmologies of Indian religions (Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina) with the…