Comprehensive History Of Jainism

SR No.: 022803
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Aseem Kumar Chatterjee
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 28 MB

Page 169

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA (AD 600-1000)
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say that all of them were sincere patrons of Jainism, but at least one of the officers of Mūlarāja was a Jaina.63 There is no doubt however that Jainism was very popular in Gujarat during the reign of the early Caulukya kings. In the second part of this work I shall discuss in greater detail the position of the Jaina religion in Gujarat after AD 1000.
Let us now turn our attention to Madhya Pradesh which, as we have already noticed, had several influential Jaina centres from early times. It should however be remembered that the ruling dynasties of this state openly favoured orthodox Hinduism or Brahmanical religion. The Jaina religion was however held in esteem by individual kings of different dynasties ruling in this state in our period, i.e., between AD 600 and 1000. Let us first take note of the available Jaina inscriptions.
From the well-known Jaina temple complex at Sonagiri (Datia district, M.P.) an epigraph of the seventh centurym has been discovered which provides direct evidence of the great antiquity of the Jaina centre. It refers to a Jaina devotee called Vadāka, who was the son of Singhadeva. A very large number of Jaina temples of quite an early period have been discovered from different parts of M.P., but not many inscriptions of this period are known. Among the few Jaina inscriptions from M.P. belonging to our period, the most important is, however, the Khajuraho inscription"5 of the reign of Candella Dhanga dated in vs 1011 corresponding to AD 955. It is carved on the left doorjamb of the temple of Jinanātha at Khajuraho. The inscription records a number of gifts in favour of the temple by one Pāhilla, and who is described as being held in honour by king Dhanga. He is further described in the earlier part of the inscription as endowed with the qualities of tranquillity and self-control, and as possessing compassion for all beings. A number of gardens are mentioned as gifts to the temple of Jinanātha. The inscriptior further refers to Sri Väsavacandra, who is described as the guru of the Mahārāja, who is no other than Dhanga. This inscription, which is the earliest dated Candella record, is conclusive evidence of the tremendous popularity Jainism enjoyed in the Candella dominion, and this is also directly testified to by the beautiful Jaina temples of the Candella territory including Khajuraho.
A few other Jaina inscriptions of our period from M.P. are also known. An inscriptions near Mandasor refers to Acāryas Subhakirti and Vimalakīrti. The script of this inscription is datable to the tenth