ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

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From 7th century AD onwards till 13th century AD building temples, idols, and pieces of art gained momentum by Jains. Devgarh, Gwalior etc in central, Srava abelgola in south, Jaisalmer and Nakoda, Phalodi and Abu's Dilwara in Rajasthan emerged as important Jain centers of art and temples. Idols like Gomatteswara at Srava abelgola and other places came up in Karnataka. Shilanka wrote commentaries on vet mbara canons. Jinasena and his pupil Gunabhadra wrote book on Universal History most revered by Digambar Jains. Hemcandra (12th century AD) became the royal holy teacher of King Vastupal of Patan Gujarat (he built a number of important and huge Jain temples all over Gujarat) and wrote important Jain texts on logic, yoga and language. From 11th century onwards, devotion (bhakti), religious rituals, use of tantras and mantras for winning over worldly afflictions emerged as popular Jain practices. Mantunga wrote Bhaktambara stotra, a very popular devotional hymn in praise of Lord Adi Nath, the 1st fordmaker. We see greater impact of Hindu religious practices on Jains who started making idols of serving gods (yaksa) and goddesses (yaksini) of fordmakers and protectors places (Bhaumias, Bhairava, Kshetrapals) for obtaining divine patronage for worldly comforts and worshipping them. From 11th century onwards, invasions and rule by Muslim kings saw large-scale destruction of Jain and Hindu temples primarily. Remains near important Muslim shrines and tombs (Qutab Minar, Ajmer Dargah Shariff etc. just few examples) still show existence of Jain temples there. However Emperor Akbar and his son Jahangir were sympathetic towards Jains and Hindu religions. Jain poets and philosophers like Banrasi Dass, Rajmal Pandey and Hindus like Tulsi Das and Surdas flourished during their regime. It is said that Digambar munis in the beginning were asked to wear clothes to go to royal courts for discussions and delivering sermons. The four renouncers popularly known as Dadagurus namely Jin Dutt Suri (AD1075- 1154). Manidhari Jinacahndra Suri (1140-1166), Jin Kushal Suri (1280-1332) and Jin Chandra Suri (1538-1613) became very popular in Rajasthan for converting a number of other castes to Jains and having divine powers to protect their followers from natural and human inflicted difficulties. A number of Jain reformers like Lok nshah in Gujarat (founder of Sth nakav si
vet mbara sect), Bhikkhu in Rajasthan (founder of Terapanth, as a sub-sect of Sth nakav si laid strict practice of non-violence for monks and abolishing special places for stay of monks) emerged. Ban rasi D sa criticized excessive use of material offerings in Digambara worship and set up Terapanth in Digambaras. Householders like Todar Mal and Daulat Ram wrote texts and treatise on Jain canons. Dhyanat Rai wrote devotional songs to worship (like Hindu tradition and poets like Kabir) fordmakers and seek patronage from their divine powers. Yasovijay wrote a number of commentaries on earlier Jain commentaries and doctrinal issues. Britain ruled India from 18th century till 1947AD. Western culture started creeping in India. Indian religions, culture, arts and history were also revived. British encouraged education. Finally it appears that Mahatma Gandhi was greatly influenced by his Jain mother and religious teacher Sri Rai Chand (a Jain laity who almost practiced monk's life in Gujarat). He adopted non-violence and truth as his weapons to bring independence to the country from the British rule. During this period, we saw Jain newspapers in different languages being published. Religious bodies like Digambara Jain Mah s bha, vet mbara conference and Young Jains Association were formed and prospered. Jains stared setting up their own schools and colleges and teach religion along with other subjects. Other socially useful institutions like orphanages, widow rehabilitation centers, improvement of facilities at pilgrim places, hospitals and dispensaries etc were established. Shanti Sagar revived Digambara Jain monk tradition in 20th century AD. Kanji swami, a convert from Sthankavasi to Digambara tradition is another reformer of the present times who opposed conduct of Digambara monks and emphasized the absolute viewpoint of pure soul. All through this period, Rajasthan was a little different and not so affected by Muslim rule. Therefore Jainism kept on flourishing there and we see large-scale construction of temples, monks and writing of literature there. Bhamashah, defense and prime minister of Rana Pratap was a respected Jain and he was so respected that his many generations got royal patronage. They built a number of temples in Udaipur and western Rajasthan. During the period 16th to 18th centuries, there was so much turmoil, that the question of religion and culture is inconsequential. Indiscipline, unruly people, violence, infighting were the order of the time. However areas like Bundelkhand, Rajasthan Gujarat, Agra and to some
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0