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120 :: Aspects of Jaina Religion
Ter (Dist. Osmanabad), Anjaneri (Dist. Nasik) and at many other places in the interior areas. In this respect it is asserted from recent archaeological researches that out of total number of Jaina caves and cave-temples in India, Maharashtra has got the largest number, that is more than 75 per cent. Again, it is pertinent to note that from ancient times the seats of respected Bhattārakas, that is, religious heads, and their mathas, that is, monasteries were located at different places in Maharashtra like Kolhapur and Nandani in western region, Latur in Marathavada region and Karanja and Nagpur in Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. Similarly it is quite clear from literary evidences that from ancient times most renowned and influential Jaina saints like Acharya Samantabhadra, Virasena, Jinasena and Somadeva were intimately connected with Maharashtra also and had composed their sacred works and literary masterpieces in this region. Furthermore, it is remarkable to find that before the advent of Muslim rule in Maharashtra, continuously from the 3rd century A.D. the powerful ruling dynasties like the Sātavāhanas of Paithan, Chālukyas of Kalyān, Rāştrakūtas of Malakhed, Yādavas of Devagiri and Silāharas of Kolhapur and Konkan had extended their royal patronage, in a large measure to Jaina religion.
As a result we find that the Jainas and the Jaina religion had a prestigious position in Maharashtra during the ancient and medieval periods. The same position is continued to the present day and in this regard it is pertinent to note that the largest proportion of Jaina population in India today is found in Maharashtra. According to 1981 Census of India, out of the total Jaina population of 32,06,038 in India, the largest number of Jainas, viz., 9,39,392 are in Maharashtra and next to Maharashtra the population of Jainas in other states is, Rajasthan (6,24,317), Gujarat (4,67,768), Madhya Pradesh (4,44,960), Karnataka (2,97,974), Uttar Pradesh (1,41,549) and Delhi (73,917). It means that out of total Jaina population in India the largest, that is, 29.3 per cent Jainas are in Maharashtra followed by 19.5 per cent in Rajasthan, 14.6 per cent in Gujarat
