Mahavira Jayanti Smarika 1975

SR No.: 014031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhanvarlal Polyaka
Publisher: Rajasthan Jain Sabha Jaipur
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 446
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 11 MB

Page 401

Jain Acharya Hiravijay Suri. In Gujrat, the Nawab Mahamud Begada was once financially assisted by the Jain community in the time of a severe drought. Even during the British Rule, the Jains in the West Bengal had congenial relations with the persons at the helm of affairs.
In South, after the influence of the first Sankaracharya, influence of Jainism gradually became diminished. Nevertheless, it could not be totally cffaced. Even today there are thousands of South Indians having faith in Jainism.
Thus it is really surprising to find that although Jainism and Buddhism both had to face equal opposition from Brahmanism, Jainism survived, while Buddhism once became nearly extinct in India.
At present there are nearly five to ten million Jains all over India according to unufficial estimates, although the 1971 census mention them to be 2.6 million.
Buddhism spread all over Asia, while Jainism remained confined only to India. The main reason of this fact is that on account of the severe rules of conduct prescribed for the Jain monks, they could not travel outside the territory of India.
Jains Contribution to Indian Culture :
A. Art and Architecture :
It is difficult to say when did the idol-worshipping actually started in Jainism, but there are archaeological evidence to show that it was probably prevalent even in pre-Mahavirian period. The famous idol of Mohen-jo-daro excavations, popularly called as prototype of Shiva, has been considered by some archaeologists and historians to be the idol of a Jain Tirthankara, either the first one or the sixteenth one. In any way, it can be unambiguously said that in the pre-Vedic civilization (or Indus Valley Civilization), the Shramana culture (or the Jain Culture) had its own place and it was a part and parcel of the culture and civilization of the pre-Vedic India.
The most ancient piece of sculpture that is available after Mahavira, is probably the idol of Mahavira found at Mathura; it is said to be of 84 years after Mahavira's Nirvana i, e. of 5th century B.C. The inscription on this read that King Ajatsatru (Kunika) worships Lord Mahavira. Then a number of idols in various postures found at Mathura, Kamkali Tila, bear testimony to Jains' contribution to sculpture in India. In later times, the temples numbering thousands all over India show to what extent the Jains have preserved their art and architecture not only valuable in aesthetic terms but also a treasure of historical facts and figures. Some of the most famous temples and pilgrimage of the