Doctrine of Jainas

Author(s): Walther Shubring, Wolfgang Beurlen
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

Page 69

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF JAINISM
Gupta 106=4251; Mathurā by G. 113=423-39 and Kahāum (in an eastern tip of the Uttar Pradesh to the north of the Ganges) by G. 141=460-1'; they, too, belong to the Digambaras, Though any day there may be discoveries being made bridging to a certain degree the historical gaps, yet the inscriptions will always prove the small outward effect of the Jain Order during the early centuries of our Christian era. For the Švet. JACOBI assumes "a comparative obscurity as an exclusive sect” lasting up to the 7th century and supposes that in Haribhadra's time (8th century) they had not yet come to the south beyond the Taptı“. It is, moreover, worth mentioning that in the classical drama there appears no Svet. Jaina.
$28. As a rule the inscriptions contain as a subject the donation of statues, building-ground, building-money or taxreturns to the Jaina community by laymen and princely patrons, in the former case of either sex and (in Mathurā) frequently at the suggestion of a specified member of the Order intimately connected with the donor. It is not so much the facts that are interesting to us as the genealogical and chronistic statements accompanying the reports They considerably add to our knowledge concerning the history of both the dynasties and the Order. Individually as well as in their subsequent members quite a number of princely houses, a o. the Ganga, Rāstrakūta, Cālukya, Hoysala have proved friendly to the Jains. And yet, taking into account the well-known versatılıty of Indian princes in religious affairs, we must be careful not to overrate the role acted by Jainism in political life, and it is rather bold to speak of adeptes du jainisme" in this connexion. It may be assumed that more often than not it was for reasons of prudence that it was thought necessary to suit the Order so influential owing to its wealthy laymen, whereas true conviction may be taken for
1. FLEET CII 3, No 61, Rép No 91. 2. BOHLER EI 2, No. 39, Rep No 92. 3. FLEET CII 3, No 15, Rep No 93
4 Samaraiccakahả p XIII VII That R G BHANDARKAR R&D 1883/84, D 125 considered the Jains "a very unimportant sect" far up in the 2nd century is explained by a different context
5. Comp PISCHEL, Gr. $ 17 end.