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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
remained an epic centre of artistic activities in the subsequent period. The caves at Ellora were chiefly patronized by the rulers from Karnataka namely Chalukyas of Badami and Rashtrakutas from 7th to 10th century A.D. These caves belong to Digambara cult. Cave no. 30 known as Chhota Kailas and cave No. 32 Indrasabha are famous Jain caves noteworthy for their beautiful sculptures of Thirthankars and other Jain deities.30 to 38 number caves are Jain caves. With the Jain excavations at Ellora, the rock cut tradition came to an end. Paithan and Kachner in Aurangabad district are also famous Jain centres (Pathy 1991: 81-84). ii) Paithan- Satavahana rulers were followers of Jainism (Dhere 1968: 33-39); Simukh erected a number of Jain temples. Suvratanatha temple is an important Jain antiquity which refers to Jain culture in Paithan. iii) Daulatabad- Group of unfinished Jain caves of Yadav period support the Jain influence. There are more than twenty loose sculptures of Jain affinity available in Daulatabad fort. These also testify to the Jain life and culture in the surrounding areas of Ellora Caves. iv) Jetwad There is a Jain temple devoted to Parshwanatha. v) In Shiur village in Vijapur taluka of same district, a few Jain icons were found in which Yaksha figures are most interesting. vi) Kachaner- a Jain temple devoted to Parswanatha, seated in Padmasana with a canopy of seven-hooded Dharnendra on his head. All these prove Jain influence on the adjoining region of Marathawada. 3) Jalgaon Dirstrict: i) Tondapur In Jalagaon district Prof. Pathy identified the hidden Jain temple (Deshpande 1977:67). 4) Jalana Dirstrict Jalana was Jain centre of learning. Bodanpur, Ambad, Partur and Bhokardan were also important Jain centres in the district. 5) Beed District- In Ambejogai, King Jaytrapal belonged to the secondary line of Yadavas of Devagiri. There are rock-cut Jain caves. standing on plain hill and also Manastambh, figures of Parshwanatha and Rishabhanatha can also be noticed. In Dharur, Dharshwar temple was afterwards converted into a mosque. In Rashtrakuta period Dharur, Dharmpuri and Kesapuri were also important Jain centres (Patil 2010: 182). 6) Parabhani district-Parabhani was famous for Jain learning, modern Jintur-Nemgiri caves also mention Jintur which was Jainpur. Caves No. 1 to 4 contain images of Adinatha, Shanthinatha, Neminatha, Parswantha, Bahubali and Panchparmeshti. These caves are assumed. to be of late Yadav period. There are some beautiful sculptures on Gangakhed Taluka, Pingli, Shirod Shahpur, Valur, Navagrah-Akhalad, Charthana were Jain centres in this district. Sidahalaka icon at Jintur seated on lion with standing child, has its Mahastmabha is 55 feet high (Dharurkar 1980: 21-28). Aundha Naganath- a Panchparmeshti temple, Padmavati icon, Shirad Shahpur- icon of Mallinatha and Parshwanatha is noteworthy. Near Asana River, there is a Samadhi of Jain Bhattarak Devendrakirti. Also Navagrah and Kirti Stmabha of Charthana are other places of Jain influence. 7) Nanded District: There are plenty of Jain centres. Kandhar, Rashtrakuta King Krishna I styled himself as 'Kandhar-Purvaradhisvara' who constructed Manaspura and Bhadrapura statues. We found there broken figures of Jain images of Rashtrakuta period. Dharmpuri, Junni were also places of Jain worship. 8) Osmanabad District: Dharashiva caves belong to Shilahar dynasty. This is 12 kms. from present Tuljapur. Reference to the Jaina caves at Dharasiv if seen in the Brihatkathakosh' and Karakanda Charivu' written by muni Kanakamar between 1041 to 1051 A.D. This literature gives reference to the Jaina caves at Ther and Dharasiv. There are 6 Jain
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