History of Jainism

SR No.: 006741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathura
century AD. 423 This is another evidence of the fact that in spite of decline in popularity Jainism continued to survive at Mathurā during the Gupta period.
The Huna invasions of the sixth century AD destroyed many art treasures of Mathurā, and also initiated the process of Buddhism's decline in this city. 124 Buddhism was in existence at Mathurā when the Chinese traveller Huein Tsang visited it in the seventh century AD.425 But by the end of the tenth century AD the vigorous cults of Hinduism, which included worship of Siva, Sakti and Visnu, absorbed Buddhism.426 It is clear from the accounts of the Muslim historians of the eleventh century AD that Mathurā was a Hindu city devoted to Vaisnavism, particularly to the Krsna cult.427 Contemporary Muslim historians make no mention of Jainism and Buddhism in Mathurā in the eleventh century AD. In fact, Buddhism had become non-existent in this city by this time.
But archaeological material unearthed from Kankālī ļīlā bears testimony to the fact that Jainism existed in Mathurā even in the eleventh century AD. The Jaina stūpa at Kankālī Tilā was in existence when Somadeva composed his Yasastilakacampū in AD 959. It was still called devanirmita. An antiquity in the collection of State Museum, Lucknow furnishes evidence that this stūpa was in existence at least up to AD 979.428 A great misfortune enveloped Mathurā in the first quarter of the eleventh century AD. Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Mathurā in AD 1018 and wrought havoc in this city, which was plundered, burnt and destroyed.429 But somehow the two Jaina temples at Kankālī ļīlā
423. HJM, p. 20; LDJC, p. 33; JPV, p. 19. 424. R.C. Sharma, The Buddhist Art of Mathură, 1984, p. 35; N. Dutt and K.D. Bajpai,
Development of Buddhism in Uttar Pradesh, 1956, p. 391. 425. Watters, On Yuwan Chaung's Travels in India, vol. I, 1904, pp. 301-13. 426. SFE, Foreword, xxi. 427. Alberuni's India, ed. Sachau, vol. I, 1914, pp. 199, 401; Elliot and Dowson, II, pp. 44
5; John Briggs, tr. Ferishta's work, vol. I, 1908, p. 58. 428. SML no. J. 236; MCH, p. 332. 429. Elliot and Dowson, II, pp. 44-5; John Briggs, op. cit., pp. 58-9.