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INTRODUCTION
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even later. Among the important Jaina inscriptions, I might mention the Hāthīgumphā inscription of Khāravela, the Mathurā inscription, the Pahārpur Digambara inscription, from Rajshahi district, Bangladesh, the Aihole praśasti of Ravikirti, etc. Over five thousand Jaina epigraphs have so far been discovered and published, and nearly 100,000 remain unpublished.
In the field of art too the Jainas have contributed a great deal. The earlier temples have virtually disappeared, but thousands of medieval Jaina temples still survive in all their splendour in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and in parts of other states of northern India. In south India, we still have many standing Jaina temples, especially in Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Jaina sculptures from the first century BC up to the present time survive and a few thousand examples of these are preserved in various Indian museums.
The present-day Jainas continue to maintain their separate identity and fortunately the two warring sects, the Digambaras and the Svetāmbaras, have come closer to each other, and their relationship with Hindus too is one of warmth and cordiality.
