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Introduction to Jainism
But India has rightly been called the homeland of asceticism.21 Tradition and legend have united to glorify the ascetic in India.22 The popularity of Jainism in ancient and early medieval India disproves the viewpoint of Jacobi and Macdonell.
Jainism declined in numerical strength due to a variety of causes. With the passage of time the Jainas lost their early zeal and many evils crept into the Jaina society.23 The advent of Islam in India also delivered a cruel blow to Jainism. As a result of Muslim aggression the Jainas living in various parts of India lost contact with each other; forced conversion of the Jainas to Islam and the policy of destruction and demolition adopted by many Muslim rulers of India weakened the monastic organisation of Jainism 24 The consequent disintegration of the Jaina church destroyed the bond of unity among the Jainas and their numerical strength kept on dwindling 25
But, in spite of the small numerical strength of its followers, the contribution of Jainism to the Indian heritage has been extremely significant. Through the ages, Jainism has produced admirable monks and nuns, kings, military generals, ministers, statesmen, authors, philosophers, religious leaders, financiers, industrialists, traders, artists, scholars, etc.26 Religious instincts fostered by Jainism have created impression on many aspects of Indian life.27 Jainism has made a significant contribution in the domain of politics also. Epigraphic records of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu contain facts which reveal that Jainism made a remarkable contribution to the
21. HJM, p.1. 22. ERE, II, p. 187. 23. CUHI, I, p. 222. 24. HJM, p. 136; JIR, pp. 51-3. 25. Ibid., pp. 136-7. 26. For a detailed information on this subject one is advised to consult B.A. Saletore,
Medieval Jainism; K.C.Jain, Jainism in Rajasthan, 1963; Jyoti Prasad Jain, The Jaina Sources of the History of Ancient India, 1964; Jyoti Prasad Jain, Pramukh Aitihāsik Jain
Puruşa Aur Mahiläen, 1975. 27. ACHI, p. 100.
