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knowledge who instilled humanitarian values into the society.
The southern part of India was a great centre of Jainism. Calukyas, Rastrakutas Gasngas and many other dynasties rendered royal patronage to Jainism. Inscriptional evidence testifies to the existence of Jainism in south India in the second and first Century B.C. Southern India was a prominent Jaina centre Bhadrabahu with his disciples migrated to the south and propagated Jainism there It suggests opening of the new era in the history of Jainism. The most conspicuous artistic monument in south Indian Jainism is the massive image of Gomateshawar Bhahubali at Shravanbelagola. It is the unparallel statue in the world Bhadrabahu the last of the Srutakevalins had the king Chandragupta as his disciple. On the basis of the inscription at Sravanbelgola. Scholars opine that Chandragupta at the end of his reign accepted Jainism and died as a Jaina ascetic.
Mudbidri is known for its temple art. The hills Udaygiri and Sonagiri enjoy a very important place in the history even to this day. There are Jaina temples of Tirathankaras on these hills. It is no exaggeration to say that history of Karnataka is intimately connected with the rise and growth of Jainism in it. "The earliest political influence of Jainism is evidenced by the establishment. Of a Jaina Kingdom in the South"5. The inscriptions of Jinakanci refers to some prominent Jainacaryas of city like Kundkanda, Samantabhadra, Pujyapada etc, Andhra Pradesh has been a strong Centre of Jainism Kundakunda - the spiritual leader of the time hails from it. His books Samaysutra, Niyamsara etc. are classics. Tattvarthsutra by Umasvati is a Jain Bible. Ratnakarandaka sravakacara is an authortative work on Jaina social ethics by Samantabhadra, regarding the Jaina
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