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is not a new achievement in view of the fact that there were Jaina Sadhus in the ancient days, who had composed great literary works at their young ages. This is an additional evidence to support my view that Aryabhata was a Jaina Sadhu having joined the Monastic order at an early age, eight or nine, and pursued his studies for several years, which is a traditional religious custom prevalent among the Jainas even today.
I may cite here the verdict of the greatest scholar of Kerala, Mahakavi Kodumgallur Kunhukuttan Thampuram, (a prince of one of the royal families of Kerala) on the contributions of Jaina Pandits for the advancement of learning the higher arts among the people of Kerala. The Mahakavi has declared that “the culture of Kerala especially in Medicine (Ayurveda), Astology and Agriculture was developed by the Jaina and the Buddhist Sadhus from whom the Kerala Brahmins, the Nambudiris studied these arts in the early centuries of the Christian era. The Brahmins became Pandits in Ayurveda and Astrology because of these studies under Jaina scholars who were respected by them. Some Brahmins became Jainas for obtaining enlightenment and wisdom from their studies under Jaina Sadhus, who converted many Keralite non-vegetarians to the vegetarian way of life.” (Keralam, Chap 2).
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