________________
Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
119
16
STUDIES IN SOUTH INDIAN JAINISM: ACHIEVEMENTS AND
PROSPECTS
With an humble beginning by the publication of a few reports about the Jaina community in the Asiatic Researches (Calcutta and London), Vol. IX, during the first quarter of the 19th Century, and showing a notable progress with the rise of a host of scholars, both western and Indian, by the first quarter of the 20th century,' Jaina Vidyā or Jainology, nowadays has become a vast distinct ficid of study comprising many aspects of Jainism - historical, philosophical, doctrinal, literary, inscriptional, scientific ctc; and thc 2500th Anniversary ‘of Lord Mahāvira's Nirvana recently can be said to have given a new phillip to the study of all these branches of the field all over India and abroad too. Now the organizers of this unique Seminar, I should say, have decided upon the most relevant topic for deliberation viz., The Various Branches of Jainology : Achievements and Prospects; and I have chosen to reflect on the Studies in South Indian Jainism : Achievments and Prospects.
It is quite possible that the first team of Jaina teachers entered South India viz., the Telugu country through Kalinga as early as 600 B.C. and were pioneers in bringing the teachings of
Lord Mahavira to the South. But it is the second team, certainly Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
