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Development and Impact of Jainism in
India... Punjab
Shri Mahendrakumar Jain 'Mast' Editor : 'Vijayanand', 'Atma Amritasara', 'Punchkula'.
Rise of Jainism :
It goes to the credit of the region of Punjab, extended from the Khaiber Pass to the banks of river Yamuna and from Kashmir to Sindh, to have been the cradle of the Vedas. Even before the composition of the Vedas this was the region in which the Indus Valley culture originated (ca 3000 B.C.) and flourished. This is the land in which the world renowned grammarian Paini (700 B.C.) was born in the town of Shalatur lying between Lahore and Peshawar ('Purushpur'). The Seals discovered in the excavations at various sites of Indus valley Culture depict Arhat Rishabh with matted hair in standing pose (Kayotsarga Mudra), 7th Tirthankar Arhat Suprshva with five snakehood as well as Lord Shiva in Yogic posture. Mention of the monasteries belonging to the adherents of Mahavira in Vitabhaya Pattan (Present: Bhera Pattan) is also found in certain ancient texts.
In the 7th C.AD the Chinese traveller Htuen Tsang came to Katasraj in the Jhelum district of Punjab and in his travelogue he has made a mention of the existence of Shvetambar Jain Temples there.
In the text called Vigyapti Triveni one finds mention of very ancient temples of Rishabh Deva and Neminatha in the District of Kangra (H.P.). From the 10th to the 16th C. groups of pilgrims regularly came on walking to Kangra from Mewar, Sindh and Rajasthan on pilgrimage. The famous temple of Baijnath (ancient name: Kiranath) is built almost entirely on the ruins of Jain Temples. Acharya Vardhamna Suri composed his 'Achara-Dinakar" in the town of Nadaun (H.P.) in the 15th century.
The Archaeological Survey of the Central Govt. has discovered a number of Jain sculptures and Symbols in the places like Dholvaha (Near Hoshiarpur), Nadaun (Nandanvan), Pinjore (Panchpur), also in Asthal Bohar & Kharkhoda near Rohtak, Firozpur-Jhirka near Narnaul, ancient Shiva temple at Chandigarh, in Samana (Dist. Patiala), as well as in Kurukshetra, Thanesar, Jind and Hissar. Emperor Samprati had constructed a Stupa in the memory of his father Kunal in Taxila which is presently in the dilapidated state and the Pakistan Govt. has put a board in front of it indicating that it is a 'Broken Jain Temple'. Some years ago while repairing Qutub Minar Delhi; some 20 Jain sculptures were discovered from base.
Notable Historical Events :
During the long spell of Muslim invasion and rule starting from Mehmood Gaznavi to Aurangajeb, except for a short duration, forcible conversions, destruction of temples and images and other sorts of terror acts were perpetrated on the local populace. In spite of that, Acharya Sheeldeva Suri was successful in obtaining a Royal charter on a copper Plate from Emperor Akbar
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