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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
Still its area is 3, 08,144 km. The Present Madhya Pradesh has five cultural regions.
1. Nimar 2. Malwa 3. Bundelkhand (Chedi) 4. Baghelkhand 5. Chambal (Gwalior)
Fortunately each region has a rich cultural heritage related to Jainism. In the Adipurana of Acharya Jinasen (9th C.A.D) we get the name of 52 Janapadas out of which Sukoshal, Avanti, Dasharna and Chedilies in the Madhya Pradesh.
According to Jain tradition it is an iternal religion but we fail to find outarcheological or historical evidence of Ist 22 Tirthankars. The literaryreference of Tirthankara Rishabhdeo, Ajitanatha, Neminatha etc. are available in Vedic literaturespecially in Rigaveda and Shrimad Bhagvata.' The Historicity of Parshvanatha and Mahavira has been proved but we don't get archeological evidence for the same.
It is said that Samavasharanaof Tirthankara(lord) Mahavira came in Manadasour (Dashpur) but no archeological evidence is available sofar.
Madhya Pradesh is the heart of the Country. Several highways pass from it in the old age too. These are designed mainly for commercial purposes but it is alsoused by pilgrims for propagation of religion and movements of Sadhus (Monks) too, therefore several religious works like construction of temples, mathas, staupas, guest houses (dharmashalas) ware done. One highway exits from Koushambi (Allahabad) to Ujjain via Bharahut (Satna), Airana (Sagar), Gyaraspur (Vidisha). It extended to paithan (Aurngabad-Maharashtra). Another highway goes to Vidisha from Mathura via Padmavati (Gwalior) Kantipur-Kutwar (Morena), Tumain-Tumbavan (Guna), Deogarh (Lalitpur). Another road links Tumain with Koushambi (Allahabad).
Due to these highways traders visits these centres and the cities laying on the way flourished. In Madhya Pradesh Tumain, Deogarh, Chanderi, Thuvon, Ahar (Tikamgarh), Vidisha, Sironj, Khajuraho, Avanti (Ujjain), Gwalior, Barawani, Pavagiri (Oon) are great centres of Jain Art and Architecture.
Early Jainism in M.P.
According to the Shwetambar Jain Literature (Lord) Mahavira himself came Avanti and observed penance in Atimuktaka Crematorium (Shmasana). In the memory of it Mahavie Tapobhumi has been developed.
The oldest reference of Jainism in M.P. is available in JaintirthSarvasamgraha. 1. For more references see Jain Dharm Aur Darshan, Muni Pranam Sagar, Jabalpur, 1998 2. Madhulika Bajpai, Madhya Pradesh Mem Jain Dharm ka Vikas, New Delhi, 1989, P-70 3. Vol. 2. P 310 and 322.
According to this reference King Udayan and Queen Prabhavati of Sindhu Souvira State (western India) worship the Jivantswami idol of Tirthankara (Lord) Mahavira. After the death of
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