________________
MEVETTIAR
OF JAINISM
AONG THE ANCIENT TAMIL
By Rao Saheb C. S. Shrinivasachari m. A.
The learned writer is Professor and Head of the Department of History and Politics, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, South India. As the Swetambara Jaina Sadhus have done much to propagate Jaina faith in the Western India, so the Digambara Jaina Sadhus have rendered their services for that purpose in the Southern India. Rao Sahib has given some idea of the Vestiges of Jainism among the Ancient Tamils in the South India and on further exploration & research much more materials are sure to be found and glory of Jainism can be proved. New budding scholars have got a vast field for them in this direction. EDITOR.
It is surmised that Visakhamuni travelled, according to the Rajavalikathe, in the Chola and the Pandya realms, worshipped in the existing Jaina shrines and preached to the Jaina settlers. According to the Mahavamsa, King Pandukābhaya, fifth in succession from the founder of the civilised kingdom of Ceylon, Vijaya, transferred his capital to Anuradhapura (circa 437 B. C.) where a temple was built for “ The Nigantba K11mbandha" and a residence was allotted to a Nigantha devotee named Girit. One writer held that the faith could not have reached the island of Ceylon, as early as the fifth century, B, C., without leaving marks in the Tamil Country, unless like Buddhism it went by sea from the North
1 The King also built a monastery for wandering mendicant monks, a dwelling for the Ajivikas and a house for the Brabmans (Geiger and BodeTranslation-p. 75).
2 M. S. Ramaswami Aiyangar-Studies in South Indian Jainism (1922); p. 33 Shatabdi Granth ]
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