Introducing Jainism

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

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INTRODUCING JAINISM
of the Deccan."39 By the fifth and sixth centuries A.D. Jainism established its strongholds in the countries to the south of the Vindhyas. By the end of that period the Jain communities were finally sharply divided into Svetāmbaras and Digambaras. Only one community-the Yāpaniyas was still alive, but they were not as important as the other two sects. These two sects were further grouped. In the south there were Sanghas and Gaņas, whereas in the north we have groups like Gacchas, Kulas and Sākhās. In the age of Gupta Imperialism (320-467 A.D.) Jainism as well as Buddhism declined. We have come to this conclusion because of the fact that there are no epigraphic and literary records about Jainism. We do not find any description of Jainism in the records of the Chinese traveller Fahien (5th cent. A.D.). But there are indications by which we can say that it continued to be popular among the merchants and bankers. 40
Apart from literary sources described above, there were two inscriptions41 concerning Jainism in the 5th century A.D. At the time of Kumāragupta these inscriptions were found at Mathura and Udayagiri. The Mathura inscription (dated 432 A.D.) speaks of a Jaina image dedicated by a lady, while the other at Udayagiri in Malwā (426 A.D.) describes the image of Pārsvanātha, the 23rd Tirthankara, erected by an unknown person. Similarly, at the time of Skandagupta (461 A.D.) in the inscription of Kakubha, commonly known as Kahuan inscription, it is stated that five images of the Jaina Tirthankaras are set up in that village. All these records show that Jainism was popular more in the west than in the east.
In Bengal and Bihar during the period under review, Jainism did not flourish very much. Only in the Pāhārpur copper-plates of 478 A.D. in Rajshāhi District, it is recorded that for the maintenance of worship at the Jain Vihāra at Vața Gohālī, which was presided over by the pupils of the
39. Majumdar, ibid., Vol-III, p. 409. 40. Majumdar, ibid., III, p. 409. 41. Majumdar, ibid., III, p. 409.