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A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF JAINISM
(dharma] pervades everywhere and moves all things in order and for ever. In the same way the axle of law retains everything (and prevents dissolution).Time may be divided into seconds or extend to Eons. Ether expands and gives room for everything. The soul entering a body will through the five senses, taste, smell, touch, hear and see. An atom may become a body or assume other forms. To stop the origin of good or evil deeds, and to enjoy the effect of past deeds, and to cut off all bonds of release (is salvation).
This summary of Jaina philosophy given in this second century Buddhist Tamil poem reminds me of similar accounts in the Dīgha Nikāyak2 and regarding the philosophy of the Ajīvikas.63 However, a far more intimate and affectionate picture of the Arhat or Tīrthamkara is given in the silappadikāram,64 which is reproduced here in full:
The All-knowing, the incarnation of Dharma. He who has transcended all limit of understanding, All-Merciful, victor among victors, the accomplisher, the adorable one, the origin of dharma, the overlord, absolute righteousness, the essence, the holy one, the ancient one, the all-wise, the vanquisher of wrath, the master, the Siva-gati, supreme leader, the exalted one, the possessor of all virtues, the transcendental light, the great truth, the all-god, the supernatural sage (Cāraṇar), the root cause of all, the master of mysterious powers (siddan), the paramount one, the infinitely radiant illumination, the dweller in everything, the guru, the embodiment of nature, our great god, the abode of neverdiminishing eminence, the emperor of virtues, the Sankaran, the Caturmukha, the Iśāna, the Svayambhū, the bestower of Angas, the Arhat, the ascetic of grace, the one-god, the master of eight attributes, the indivisible eternal substance, the dweller in the heaven, the foremost of the Vedas, and the shining light that dispels ignorance. None can escape the prison of this body unless he obtains the illumination of the revealed Veda, proclaimed by him, who has the various above-mentioned names.
I have already pointed out that the poet of the Silappadikāram was a man of wide vision end extensive learning. This is why in the above description of the Tīrthamkara he has used epithets that are found in the description of Brahman or Siva in Hindu mythology.
Let us turn our attention to some of the places of Tamil Nadu and Kerala connected with Jainism from the earliest time. The above discussion has abundantly shown the popularity of the Jaina religion in the three southern kingdoms of Cola, Pāņdya, and Cera. A large number of places associated with the Jaina religion and cul ture from different parts of these states have been discovered.
