Studies in South Indian Jainism

SR No.: 011096
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar, B Seshagiri Rao
Publisher: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar
Publication Year: 1922
Total Pages: 354
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 72

56 THE JAINS IN THE TAMIL LAND. • disregard the worship of Saiva gods. It looks as though the Jains had themselves invited the Kalabhras with a view to establish Jainism more firmly in the country. The period of the Kalabhras ande that which succeeds it must, therefore, be considered as the period when the Jains had reached their zenith. It was during this period that the famous Nāladiyār, was composed by the Jains. There are tivo references? in Näladiyār to Muttaraiyar indicating that the Kalabhras were Jains and patrons of Tamil literature. We would sain knoiv more about these Muttaraiyar but unfortunately, the book, presumably treating about them and mentioned in Yāpperumkalaviruti, viz., Tamizhmuttarayarkovai, is entirely lost.
A word about Nāladiyār. It consists of 400 quatrains of moral and didactic sayings, each one composed, according to tradition, hy a Jain 'ascetic. Dr. Pope styles it as the Vellälar Vēdam, 1 The base feed full of rice and savoury food,
That men, great lords of the triple lands, With generous gladness give : But water won with willing strenuous toil By those who know not savoury food by name even, Will turn to nectar.
Q. 200. Poor are the men that give not, Even though deemed wealthiest Of all that flourish on the teeming emple earth rs. They who even when they are poor seek not as Suppliants wealthy men are, Lords of the three mighty lands.' Pope's Naladiyar.
Q. 296. · Where are the degrendants puranam as Vadugakarnataka of these Muttaraiyar, the Kala- people. The Myttarniyar of bhras of the Vēlvikudi grant ! the Melur taluq, Madura district, In Trichinopoly district we have aro known as Ambalakārans. even to-day Muttaraiyar. They They are Kallars by caste. This seem to be petty chiefs. In the, is a very interosting subject for Andhra country they are known investigation. It is noteworthy as Muttu Rajalckal. This is that in Sangam literature, Pulli, quite in keeping with the des- the Chief of Vérigadam, iy known cription of Kalabhras in Periya. as Kalvarkoman (king of thieves).
Nālądiyār
and the Jains.