Introducing Jainism

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

Page 36

INTRODUCING JAINISM
In the book the Jaina Philosophy of Syādvāda is explained. Kumārilabhatta and Vācaspati Miśra knew this book. It should be noted in this connection that there was a great philosophical dispute between Kumārilabhatta and Samantabhadra. Akalanka also joined the dispute, while Prabhācandra and Vidyānanda defended their co-religionists against Kumārila.57
Almost at the same time there were several sanghas (groups) in South India. There was a Mūla-sangha (the original group) in the south. Later on, this sangha was divided into four ganas. The names of the ganas depended on the founders of the gaņas. For example, the Nandigana is named after Māghanandin, Senagana after Jinasena, Simhagana after Simha and Devagaņa after Deva.58 They were all pupils of Arhadbali, who was again a pupil of Bhadrabāhu II. From Hiuen Tsang's account59 we come to know that in the country of Pandyas, a large number of the Nirgranthas lived and preached their doctrines. But in the seventh century, owing to the rise of Saivism and Vaignavism, Jainism began to decline. Tradition says that Mahendravarman, a Pallava king, was a Jain by faith, but was converted to Saivism by Appar. So also Arikeśari Māravarman, a Pandya king, was converted to Śaivism. All these evidences show that Jainism lost its ground in the south in the seventh century A.D.60
Ghatagel has succintly outlined the position of Jainism · in the south at that time thus :
The picture of Jainism as a religion, which we get in thla period, does not differ materially from what we know of itin later days. The community was divided into the monastic order and the lay following, with further sub-divisions, particularly among the former. The building of temples, the establishment of monasteries, the worship of the prophets,
57. Winternitz, Hist. of Ind. Lit. II, p. 478. 58. Majumdar, ibid., p. 414. 59. Majumdar, ibid., p. 414. 60. Majumdar, ibid., p. 414. 81. Majumdar, ibid., p. 414f.