Introducing Jainism

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

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INTRODUCING JAINISM
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Simhanandin. His successors were also followers of Jainism. It is said that two later rulers of this dynasty, Avinīta and Durvinīta were brought up and nurtured by the two Jain sages Vijayakirti and Pujyapāda respectively. At their time, the kings presented gifts to Jain monks and built Jain temples. 49
In a similar way, the Kadamba rulers of Vaijayanti, though followers of Hinduism, showed unusual favour towards Jainism. They too gave donations to Jain monks and erected many Jain temples. At the time of the Kadamba rulers "the Jaina community was flourishing under their benevolent patronage, and that many high officials and rich landlords of the country were devout followers of this religion."50 There were many sects at that time : the Nirgranthas, the Yāpaniyas, the Kūrcakas and the Śvetapatas.
In the early part of the Chālukyas of Bādāmi (Bijāpur District) who held sway over extensive regions of the Deccan from the middle of the sixth to the middle of the eighth century, we do not get any remarkable evidence of Jainism.51 But at the time of Pulakesin II (610/11-642 A.D.), the greatest of the Chalukya rulers, Jainism was very much favoured. A
temple of the Jinendra, called Meguti, was constructed by : Ravikirti. Later rulers like Vinayāditya, Vijayāditya and
Vikramāditya gave grants to Jaina teachers for constructing Jain Temples. 52
The early history of Jainism in South India 53 is not very clear. The lack of direct evidence is the cause of this uncertainty. There is a reference to the Nirgranthas in Ceylon in the Mahāvaņģa at the time of Pundukābhaya. So also in the caves in the districts of Rāmnād and Tinnevelly there are references to Jainism. The early Tamil literature, though might indicate the flourishing state of Jainism in South
49. Majumdar, ibid., p. 411f. 50. Ibid., III, p. 412. 51. Ibid., III, p. 412. 52. Ibid., II, p. 412. 53. Ibid., III, p. 413.