Jainism in India

SR No.: 001667
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 150
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 14 MB

Page 115

JAINISM IN INDIA
were not wanting to restore the faith to its original greatness. Thus Gangaraya, the minister of king Visnugopa and after him Hula, the minister of king Narasimhadeva, tried in vain to get back the lost influence of the Jainas. But the rapid rise of Vaisnavism patronised by Hoysala kings, the systematic and organised opposition of Ramanuja and a number of Saiva leaders and, last but not least, the severe attacks of the Lingayats contributed to the downfall of Jainism in the Mysore country. It must not be supposed that Jainism was entirely rooted out of the soil. A respectable number of persons still followed the faith but they no longer exerted any political influence. The later Rajahs of Mysore not only did not persecute the Jainas but supported them. Even foreign rulers such as Hyder Naik granted villages to the Jaina temples, though, owing to the oppressive nature of the Government,
at festivals of Sravana Belgola and other places were stopped.
The Hoysala power lasted to 1326 A.D. when the dynasty was overthrown by the Mahomedans. Out of the disorder and anarchy that arose out of the Mahomedan rule, the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar arose. Not that Jainism expected a great revival under the aegis of Hindu rulers of South India who were most of them guided in their state policy by the Brahmins. But it is pleasing to note that the kings of Vijayanagar never persecuted the Jainas. On the other hand, evidences tend to show that they patronised the Jainas in a way. Take for example, the famous Jaina-Vaisnava compact of the time of Bukkaraya, 1353 A.D. to 1377 A.D. We cannot say that this compact of Bukkaraya was implicitly obeyed by the quarreling sectarians. One thing, however, seems to be certain. The support given to Jainism gave some stimulus to their activities. For we find that a son of a general of Harihara II (1307 A.D.--1404 A.D.,) as well as prince Uga, became converts to the Jaina faith. Another inscription mentions that Devaraya II (1419 A.D. to 1446 A.D.) built a stone temple of Arhat Parsvanatha on a street of the Pan-Supari bazar, near his residence in Vijayanagar. These incidents are sufficient evidence to prove that the ruling families of Vijayanagar not only patronised but some of them also professed the Jaina faith.
Now we may make note of the Jaina Antiquities of Mysore. In Bangalore District an inscription found at Begur dated 1426 A.D. records a gift to Jaina temples during the reign of Nagiya Kariyappa. Another inscription dated 950 A.D. (?) records death by fasting by a daughter of Nagattar. An inscription found at Vevurur village of Cinnapatan taluk records death by fasting by Nagsena Gora, disciple of Ari Candrasena.