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Jainism Under the Muslim Rule
Kamta Prasad Jain
The invasions of the Mohamedans on India began since the eighth century A.D.' and as ambitious foreigners, they had little chance at the outset to get settled in the country. Rather they came with the desire of plunder and murder. They did so and returned full with camel-loads of wealth. Their inhuman atrocities filled the hearts of Hindus with fearful hostility. But with the times, the mutual feelings changed. Muslim invaders settled in India and decided to rule as Indian kings. We find Babar instructing his son Humayun in the following remarkable words: 2
"O Son, the kingdom of India is full of different religions ....... It is incumbent on thee to wipe all religious prejudices off the tablet of thy heart; administer justice according to the ways of every religion.”
The wise teaching of Babar prevailed and this paved the way for forming friendship with Hindu rulers, which was cemented by marriage contracts later on. Hindus heaved a sigh of relief and along with them Jainas also found an opportunity to observe and give full play to their predominating religious feelings, though after great suffering and sacrifice. In this respect the remarks of Prof. Helmuth von Glassenapp are justified and it is true that mutual relations between the Jainas and Mohamedans were friendly also.
Mohamedans first attacked Sind and they found it full of people called Samans. The ruler of Sind at the time was also a follower of Samanis, who observed the vow of Ahimsā minutely and had great confidence in their astrological predictions. No doubt the term saman or śramana equally stands for Jaina and Buddhist ascetics. But independent evidence proves the existence of the Jainas in Sind up to 15th century A.D. Jainas are also more famous for their vow of Ahimsā and knowledge of astronomy. The remarks of the Mohamedan writers about the people of Sind that the infidels do not slaughter animals, nor do they eat flesh, fish or eggs."8 are rightly
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| SR No. | 524622 |
| Book Title | Tulsi Prajna 2005 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Shanta Jain, Jagatram Bhattacharya |
| Publisher | Jain Vishva Bharati |
| Publication Year | 2005 |
| Total Pages | 110 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India |
| File Size | 5 MB |