Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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The Unknown Pilgrims
a progresive decline and gradually lost its prestige and ascendancy. It had, however, taken firm hold from the North of Tamil Nāļu right down to the far South; the region of Nāgaraköyil was an important centre and the famous temple of Nāgarăja was certainly a Jaina sanctuary before it became a place of Hindu worship.269 Another indication of the importance of the Jaina centres in the region of Cape Comorin is to be found in the inscriptions found in different parts of the area, which give the names of several learned munis and their disciples, natives of the region of Nāgaraköyil.270
To give a brief survey of the important contribution of Jaina scholars, for the most part monks, to the religious, literary and cultural achievement of the early centuries and up to the Middle Ages, we may mention the following works:
- The Tolkāppiyam, a detailed grammar, probably compiled by a Jaina author. This is the most ancient work of research known on the Tamil language, divided into three major chapters dealing with letters, words and meaning; of these the last mentioned treats many subjects such as love and war. 271
cannot be denied that the Jainas were the object of open hostility, which contributed to the defection of a number of its members who went over to sects that had come into being out of Brahmanism.
269 Cf. Soundara Rajan, 1975, p. 158; this is a well-known and striking example of the transformation of a centre of Jaina worship into a sanctuary of some other religion, but there are many other examples also in these parts.
270 Cf. Padmanabhan, 1969, p.24.
271 Cf. Chakaravarti, 1974, pp. 19-28; Soundara Rajan, ibid., p. 137. Opinions differ as to the date of its completion. It is very possible that this is an extremely ancient text of a time preceding our era. Some suggest the Vih c. B.C.