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HR 63/2, 38-79 2010
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ers of Shankaracharya. Jain temples were destroyed across South India, including Kerala. Many of them were converted into Hindu temples, and the followers of Buddhism and Jainism were converted into Hinduism and Islam. A Jain temple built by Vikaramaditya Varaguna at Tichchanattunalai was converted into a Bhagavathi temple by the beginning of the 13th century (Nair 1986: 168). Similarly, the nagaraja temple at Nagercoil continued to be a Jain temple till the latter half of the 16th century during when it had received donaitons from the Travancore king.... This temple became Hindu in its nature and worship subsequent to the reign of Udaya Marthanda Varman (Nair 1986: 168). There were six images of Jain Thirthankars in this temple.
Both Jainism and Buddhism had begun to wane in Kerala in the 9th century A.D., and by the end of the 12th century the eclipse was almost practically total. Jainism seems to have completely disappeared from Kerala by the 16th century. The foreign vistiors from Europe do not mention the Jains in their travelogues. One lasting contribution of Jainism to Kerala is that the architecture of the Hindu temples and the Muslim mosques of North Malabar were influenced by the architecture of the Jain temples. While Jainism did hardly leave any impression on Kerala society other than the temple architecture, Buddhism was absorbed in Hinduism in respect of some of its ceremonies and froms of worship. The main vestiges of Jainism in Kerala today are the Jain shrines at Kallil Mundur, Palghat and Sultan's Battery. Besides these, some old Jain families live in the Waynad and Kasargod area in north Kerala. There is a five hundred years old Jain temple in Palakkad which was renovated in 1993. It is dedicated to Bhagwan Neminath and is located near the railway station.
Perhaps it would not be out of place here to mention the existence of Nam Dhari Jains in South India. Like the Saraks of Eastern India, there is a sizeable community of Nam Dhari Jains in South India, in south Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. They put a big "Tikka' on their forehead called "Nam". Hence they are known as "Nam Dhari". They are vegetarians. In ancient times they were followers of Jainism but then they got convereted to Hinduims. According to jainsamaj.org/magazine (May 2006), in the old documents of their forefathers their religion is written as Jain. With the initiative of Bhattarak Shree Bhuvan Bhanu Keerti, the chief of Kanakgiri Jain Bhattarak Peeth, many of them are now returning back to Jainism. In their villages Jain community is helping them for theri education and employment. Jain temples are being built in each of their villages.
