Question

Assertion (A): In the Jain tradition, the origin of the art of scripts happened from Lord Rishabhdev.
Reason (R): In the Samavayanga Sutra, there is a mention of eighteen different scripts including Kharoshthi.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
• C. (A) is true but (R) is false
• D. (A) is false but (R) is true

Hint:

Remember that Rishabhdev is credited with "Lipi" (Writing) and "Anka" (Numbers). He taught Writing to Brahmi and Mathematics to Sundari.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question deals with the Jain tradition's perspective on the origin of human civilization and its scholarly heritage. In Jainism, Lord Rishabhdev is not just a spiritual teacher but the Yugadideva (Lord of the beginning of the era), who taught humanity seventy-two arts for men and sixty-four for women, including writing and mathematics.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Analysis of Assertion (A): According to Jain Puranas, Lord Rishabhdev taught the art of writing to his daughter, Brahmi. It is widely believed in the Jain tradition that the "Brahmi Script," the mother of most Indian scripts, is named after her. This act of teaching is considered the divine origin of scripts in human history. Therefore, the assertion that scriptural art originated from Rishabhdev is historically and mythologically accurate within the Jain framework.
2. Analysis of Reason (R): The Samavayanga Sutra, one of the oldest Jain Agamas, provides a list of eighteen scripts (Lipi) that were prevalent or known during that period. This list includes Brahmi, Yavanani, and indeed Kharoshthi. The presence of this list proves that Jain scholars were highly aware of linguistic diversity.
3. Relationship between (A) and (R): While both statements are true, the reason (mention of 18 scripts in a later text like Samavayanga) is not the logical cause or the foundational explanation for the assertion that Rishabhdev originated scripts in a much earlier prehistoric era. The origin is a mythological event, whereas the Samavayanga list is a later scholarly recording. Hence, while both are individually correct, the reasoning link is not explanatory.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) does not explain the origin mentioned in (A).