Jain Darshan aur Sanskruti Parishad

SR No.: 010092
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Banthia
Publisher: Mohanlal Banthiya
Publication Year: 1964
Total Pages: 263
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 9 MB

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Jainism in Ancient Kalinga :
Though modern Orissa State to-day has only a handful of persons belonging to Jain order mostly migrated from Rajasthan and Jainism seems non-existence here still has a glorious past in Ancient Kalinga. The last two Jain Tirthankars troded this holy land with their mission and found responses from all quarters of ancient Kalinga. Late Nagendra Nath Basu holds that Parswanath came from Tamralipti Port to Kalinga and arrived at Popakatak village which is identified with the Kupari village in Balasore District of Orissa. It is needless emphasise that many persons were attracted by his religion and were consiquently converted. Mahabir, the last Tirthankar was invited to come to Kalinga by the then King of Kalinga for the propagation of his creed. "Tato Bhagabam Tosalim Gao" of Abasayak Sutra substanciates this view. Dr. Jayaswal further re-inforces this view, with the help of the 14th line of Hathigumpha rock inscription of Kharvela where the sojorn of lord Mahabir in Kumari Parbat is clearly hinted. Dr. L. N. Sahu surmises that the mention of the word "Sramana" in the 13th anusasana of Asoka proves that Jain Sramanas were abandantly found in Kalinga at the time of his invasion. All these evidences prove beyond doubt that in ancient Kalinga Jainism gained foot-hold to be sprouted in the regime of Kharvela which preceeded it.
Jainism and Kharavela:
Kharavela, a powerful and accomplished ruler of ancient Kalinga was the third King of the Chedi dynisty who ruled some time during 1st century B.C. His famous Hathigumpha Rock Inscription is the only source of evidence to prove that he was a Jaina and enthusiastically patronised Jainism as Aśoka patronised Budhism. His date is in a highly controversial topic. Scholars are not yet unanimous regarding it. Late Dr. L. N. Sahu taking 'Tibasa Sata' as 500 years has arrived at the conclusion that he flourished in 1st century B.C. which seems most convincing.
In the 13th year of his rule, he excavated in Kumari