Comprehensive History of Jainism Volume II

Author(s): Aseem Kumar Chaterjee
Publisher: Firma KLM Pvt Ltd

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CHAPTER I
JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA
(1000_1300 A.D.) Jainism, as we have already pointed out in the first volume of this work, was quite popular in the post-Gupta period in Gujarat, Rajasthan and parts of Bengal and Orissa. However, in other parts of Northern India, this religion was fighting a losing battle for existence. The ruling dynasties, except in Gujarat and Rajasthan did nothing for the promotion of this religion. And even in these two states, only a few kings did something for the welfare of this religion. In this chapter, we will review the history of this religion in different states of Northern India and we will take up Gujarat first.
SECTION A: JAINISM IN GUJARAT The tremendous popularity of Jainism in Gujarat during the period under review, is fully proved not only by a remarkable number of inscriptions, but also by numerous literary works, which were composed or copied during this period. A great number of Jain savants, of this period, were inhabitants of Gujarat. Let us first discuss the condition of this religion in Gujarat in the eleventh century.
The Varunāśarmaka grant of 975 A,D, proves that Câmupdarāja, the son of Mūlarāja, had a soft corner for the religion of the Jinas. However, this grant was issued by him as a yuvardja during the reign of his father. No inscription, issued during the actual reign of Cāmuṇqarāja, (996-1008) is known. However, the evidence of the Varunāšarmaka grant, regarding Cāmundarāja's weakness for the Jain religion, is corroborated by the evidence of the Prabhāvakacaritas, which represents one Jain muni Virasűri as his guru. We further learn from the same