Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 189

Some vestiges of Jainism among the ancient Tamils
was a disciple of Kurandi Ashtaupa vasi-Bhatara of Venbu-nādu caused the image above to be made in the name of the residents of the village of Kuyirkudi-a fact which shows that entire village communities honoured and followed the Jaina persuasion; and the second record says that the other image was made by Maganandi, a disciple of Kurandi Ashtaupa vasi, in the name of all the inhabitants of the nadu or district. Among other pupils of Gunasendeva, who caused images of the master to be made at the place, may be mentioned Achchan Sripalan, a nephew of Anattavan Masenan, Kandan Ponpattan ( goldsmith) of Sirukadaippuram, the wife of Velan Sadaiyau, a shepherd of Parur, and Araiyangavidi.
In all these places the beds are known in popular legend and belief as the beds of the five Pandava brothers; and both beds and caves are populary ascribed to the Pandava brothers. The Madura and Tinnevelly districts are particularly rich in such monuments. The age of the records has, in several cases, been attributed to the third century before Christ. The Jaina faith played an important part in the literary and political history of South India in the early centuries of the Christian era, down, in fact to the seventh century which witnessed the beginnings of the twin Bhakti revivalist movements of the Vaishnava Alwars and the Saiva Nayanmars. But it is strange how the Jainas and the Bauddhas who were also fairly widespread in that period in the land, "did not exercise any influence with their patrons in the matter of their being provided with comfortable rock-cut cells during their retirement to the hills in the rainy season, as their compatriots of the north did. "
The rock-cut caves which were excavated by the Pallavas and other later rulers were not intended to be used as the habitations of ascetics as the Buddhist and Jaina caverns were.
The prevalence of the Jaina creed in South India in the centuries on both sides of the Christian era is supported by the tradition of the migration of the Srutakevali Bhadrabahu, along with Chandragupta Maurya to the Karnataka country. Mahamahopadhyaya, Rao Bahadur R. A. Narasimhachar, the veteran archaeologist of Mysore, has after ..: 110:.
[Shree Atmaramji