Jaina Archaeology Outside India

SR No.: 007644
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jineshwardas Jain
Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 105
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

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conversion to Christianity, which was a mandatory tribute and service to foreign masters. Around 100 AD the decline of Mayan civilization started. My view is that these pyramids were jain temples since their art and style is similar to the temples found in Angkor of Cambodia. It is believed that Mayan rulers used to punish all the family members even if only one in their family committed an offence. The gruesome tradition could not be appreciated by local people, hence, they allowed easily the ransacking of the cities and culture at the hands of the invaders. There are tens of such pyramids situated all along the coastal side of the Yucatan peninsula. At most of these places there is at least one cenote ( a well ) which is an essential requirement for Jaina way of worshipping i.e for head anointing etc. Archeologist William Saturno of the University of New Hampshire first discovered the sacred Murals in San Bartolon in 2001. The wall paintings prove that the ancient Mayans were known for their prowess in astronomy and mathematics. The pictures depict the birth of the cosmos and the divine right of a king. An archeologist Arthur Demarest from Van-der-bilt University, along with Thomas Barrientos from the University dad del Valle in Gautemala discovered a palace, found in an overgrown patch of Gautemalan rainforest which assumed to be 1300 years old. It has 170 rooms 11 courtyards. The palace which sits in the center of an ancient city named Cancuen ('place of serpents ) measures 270,000 sq.ft and dates back to the 8th century.
CANCUN:
Cancun is the most famous tourist place of Mexico. This place is warm throughout the year and is very attractive for pleasant oceanic winds and at the same time very popular for observing sunset scenes. It is also famous for Divers, Boatmen and for holding international seminars and get-togethers. After going through the articles and photographs of pyramids situated all around the Yucatan peninsula published in National Geographic magazines [34, 35, 36), specially in the issue of April 1986. I felt that these pyramids must have an influence of Jainism. Since in Jainism the pyramids are constructed for celebrating the five Kalyanakas (ceremonies) of Tirthankaras e.g. Soul entering into mother's womb, Birth, Renunciation, achieving keval gnan (Infinite knowledge)and finally Nirvana. Hence I visited Chicen-Itza in the year 2000 AD to witnesw this
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