Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

SR No.: 006725
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1989
Total Pages: 170
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 12

Preface
avoided, although the essence of the tenets and the diversities of belief and thought among the various Jaina groups have been taken into consideration.
Chapter 4 is a descriptive study on the prevalence of this faith in different regions of eastern India in ancient times. It is worth noting that at the time of Mabāvīra and after him, under his Ganadharas, Jainism encompassed a wide region outside the pale of eastern India and embraced a variety of peoples and communities with diverse trends and thoughts. The reflection of religion of the Jainas in this part of the country is abundantly projected both in the literature as well as in the archaeological objects like inscriptions, icons, etc.
A word is required to explain in this connection the geographical connotation of the term Prücya-desa (eastern India) or Prūcidiś (eastern quarter). The denotation of the term varied concomitantly with the eastward expansion of an alien culture imparted by the Aryan speaking people. According to the Brahmanical text the entire region lying to the east of Benares is designated as eastern country (cf. Värāņus pāh paruluh pūrvadeśuḥ of Rājasekhara's Kavyamimämsä). The region has its common bearings on certain aspects like a specific geographic character, common properties of soil, climate, vegetation, agriculture and technical exploitation. Moreover, as an integrated area of social life, it exhibits a balance of state of dynamic equilibrium between its various parts (OdraMügudhi Pravrtti of Bharata's Națju-süstra). The prchistoric and protohistoric antiquities exhibit practically a uniform development with regard to technology and material culture. The transformation that followed the introduction of Brahmanical culture enveloped the entire region with a short span of time. (For an elaborate discussion, see author's History and L'volution of Vaişnavism in Eastern Indiu, ch. I, Calcutta, 1982.)
It may also be mentioned in this connection that while attempting to locate important and popular Jaina centres in eastern India, almost all the available evidences have been utilised. Still, in some cases the identification remains tentative since no corroborative evidence other than the similarity of names has come into light.
A number of Jina images found from various sites have been described in this chapter. To make the study more fruitful and purposeful some important and selective photographs have been displayed at the end. These representations show that the early