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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
from Rajasthan by these scholars. Most of them have been deciphered, read, compiled and published. This is a unique storehouse of historical information yet to be utilized fully.
The antiquity of Jainism in Rajasthan, according to Badli inscription, goes back to the 5th century B.C. Dated the 84th year after the death of Mahavir, this inscription mentions of a place called Majjhamika. This is the same Madhyamika of Chittore, which finds mention in Patanjali's Mahabhashya. Its present name is Nagari. The Madhyamika branch of the Jain shraman order was named after this place. The foundation of the city is believed to have been laid by Priyagrantha, a disciple of Suhasti in the 3rd century B.C. An inscription of the same date has the words 'for all beings'; an indicator that this is a Jain inscription establishing the existence of Jainism in Rajasthan at this time.
Bhagavan Mahavir's visit to this area also finds confirmation in the Bheenmaal inscription (of 1276) where it is mentioned that that Mahavir had come to Shrimaal Nagar. The history of Shrimaal clan, Shrimaal-mahatmya, also corroborates this with the claim that they were the earliest converts from this area were converted by none other than Gautam Ganadhar. The Mungsthala inscription (1369) informs that Bhagavan Mahavir had come to Arbudabhumi (modern Abu) during the 37th year of his life. During this travel he also stayed at Bamanvada and Varkana. But these inscriptions are of much later date and hence comparatively less dependable.
Literary evidence and inscriptions indicate beyond doubt that Chandragupta Maurya was a Jain. An inscription recovered from Bairath with the name of his grandson conveys that his empire extended to some portions of Rajasthan. The rich artifacts dating second century A.D. unearthed from Kankalitila, Mathura also indicate that Jainism prevailed in areas of Rajasthan during that period.
Although Ashoka was a follower of Buddhism, he was not unsympathetic to Jainism. He had dug out caves in the hills of Barabar for the residence of Ajivak monks. His inscriptions mention of gifts made by him to the Nirgranthas and Ajivaks. His grandson Samprati did so much for the spread of Jainism that in Jain history he is known as Jain Ashoka. He is believed to have erected many temples and images in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Malawa. Col. Todd was of the opinion that the famous temple at Kumbhalmer was constructed by Samprati. But later scholars opine that this temple seems to be of 13th century A.D. and bears similarity to the temple at Abu. According to the Nandlai inscription, the local Jain Sangh reconstructed a temple said to be constructed by king Samprati at Nandlai in V.S. 1686.
According to Greek sources many Digambar (sky-clad) monks whom they called Gymnosophists used to move about in the region we know as Rajasthan. They exposed themselves to hardships and courted death by starvation. They held a position of esteem in society. Many ladies practiced restraint and studied religion and philosophy under their guidance. They made no discrimination on the basis of caste and sex but gave a high place to conduct. They used to worship stupas. These sources support the surmise that Jainism was widespread in Western India during the advent of the Greeks.
Jainism held a position of esteem during the Shak era also. The dominant figure of the
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