Page Text
________________
Jaina Community-A Social Survey
and wielded some influence they tried to spread Ahimsa culture among the masses. That is why we find that the provinces of Kai nāṭaka and Gujaratha, which are the strongholds of Jainas from the beginning, are mainly vegetarian. In fact it is admitted that as a result of the activities of the Jainas for the last so many centuries Ahimsa still forms the substratum of Indian character as a whole.117
376
Apart from the development of language and literature, art and architecture, and philosophy and ethics, the Jainas distinguished themselves in giving their unstinted support for the improvement of political and economic life in the country. The Jainas, especially in Southern and Western India, produced a large number of eminent and efficient monarchs, ministers and generals and thereby contributed to maintain and improve the political conditions of the people. Not only the ordinary Jainas but their saints or Acharyas also aided materially to create the proper political environment necessary for the resuscitation of the life in the country. It is considered that due to the keen interest taken by the Jaina gurus, i. e., preceptors in political affairs of the country, Jainism occupies an important place in the history of India. 118 The Jaina ascetics were never indifferent towards the secular affairs in general. We know from the account of Megasthenes that, in the 4th century B. C., the Sarmanes or Jaina ascetics who lived in the woods were frequently consulted by the kings through their messengers regarding the cause of things. 119 So far as Karnataka was concerned Jainism throughout its course of more than one thousand years was an example of a religion which showed that religious tenets were practised without sacrificing the political exigencies when the question of rejuvenating life in the country was at stake. That is why in Karnāṭaka we find that the Jaina Acharyas ceased to be merely exponents of dogmas and turned themselves into creators of kingdoms.120 It has already been noted that the Jaina Saints were virtually responsible for the founding of the Ganga Kingdom in the 2nd century A. D. and the Hoyasala kingdom in the 11th century A. D. 121
In fact the most creditable achievement of Jainas is their survi val from ancient times up to the present day. The Jainas and the Buddhists were the main representatives of Śramana culture in India and it is pertinent to note that while Buddhism disappeared from the land of its birth, though it survives in other parts of the
| SR No. | 007019 |
| Book Title | Jaina Community a Social Survey |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Vilas Sangve |
| Publisher | Popular Book Depot Bombay |
| Publication Year | 1980 |
| Total Pages | 484 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 12 MB |