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68
NAYANARS AND ALVARS.
the Jains
every advantage of the opportunity thus presented and rigorously carried on a crusade Egainst Vedic religion. This soon brought about a reaction. The conversion of Kūn Pandya, therefore, is not a mere episode in the religious history of the Madura kingdom. It is nothing less than a political revolution, the fruits of which the Brahmin Saint, Tirujñānasainbandar, reaped to the full. Not only hundreds and thousands of recalcitrant Jains were driven out of the country, but inany were forced
by circumstances to embrace Saivism. to Before considering the part the Vaishnavaite
Alvars took in this general movement against the Jains of the Tamil land, let us inquire what light the Tēvāram hymns throw on the life and activities of the Jains, in the seventh or eighth centuries A.D. The stronghold of the Jains in the south was Madura and the ascetics who guided the movement generally lived in the eight mountains surrounding Madura, such as Anaimalai, Pasumalai and so on. They kept themselves severely aloof, not caring to mix with the society at large. If women happened to meet them in the streets, they rushed in and bolted their doors, out of shame. They seem to have spoken 1 “ ஆனைமாமலை யாதியாய விடங்களிற்பல வல்லல்சேர்
ஈனர்கட்கு" தேவாரத் திருமுறை, சுவாமிநாத பண்டிதர் பதிப்பு, 1911,
wesele 858, orrstowiesi, gari corrofily!'1. 2 1 பூவையாய்த் தலைபறித்துப் பொறியற்ற சமணீசர் சொல்லே
கேட்டு | காவிசேர் கண்மடவார் கண்டோடிக் கதவடைக்குல் கள்வனானேன்"
66. m. 698, swwi, BoT CERT, 'Quoi Qwor' 8.
