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CHAPTER IX Jainism in North India
(AD 600-1000)
Despite the paucity of Jaina records in north India in the post-Gupta period, it is possible to write a more or less accurate account of the state of the Jaina religion, not only with the aid of inscriptions, but also literary works. We have already noticed that the religion of the Tirthamkaras was firmly established in virtually every part of India by AD 600. We should remember in this connection that a large number of Jaina commentaries came to be written in the post-Gupta period, which also indirectly testifies to the popularity of this religion. However, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bengal, and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were especially closely connected with Jainism. In other parts of northern India, it merely continued its existence in the post-Gupta period. I shall endeavour in this chapter to give a historical account of the Jaina religion in different parts of northern India.
I should, at the very outset, refer to the extremely valuable account of the Chinese pilgrim Yuan Chwang, who came to India in the second quarter of the seventh century AD. It is apparent from his account that Jainism was quite popular in different parts of India when he visited. He especially refers to the Jainas who lived in his time at Kāpiśī,' Simhapura,? Rājagļha,' Pundravardhana,' and Samatata.” It, however, appears from the account that the Digambara Jainas were more popular in India in his time than the Svetāmbaras. The only reference to the Svetāmbaras that we get in his narrative is in connection with the description of Simhapura. I have already referred to the discoveries made by Stein from there. From Murti (ancient Simhapura) in Salt Range and old Jaina temple has been discovered. It appears that during the time of Yuan Chwang's visit a large Jaina temple complex existed there.
Rājagpha, which was intimately associated with the activities of Mahāvīra, was a flourishing Jaina centre during Yuan Chwang's visit. We are told that he saw many Digambaras on the Vipula mountain
