Introducing Jainism

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

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INTRODUCING JAINISM
and celebration of great public festivals were the normal features of the religious life of the people, Circumstances probably led to a change of habits of some of the monks, :. which produced the distinction between Chaityavāsa (residence in the monastery) and Vanavāsa (residence in the forest). The former developed a more compact organisation which led to the establishment of a spiritual head of the community of a given locality, called the Bhattārakas, whose lists of succession called the Pattāvalis, often cover long periods of time. Many religious records of these days speak of the observance of the vow of Sallekhanā; the peculiarly Jain practice of observing fast unto death, as performed both by monks and laity, and we observe a steady growth of holy places to which monks and pious householders retired towards the end of their life." ,
In the age of Imperial Kanauj (750 A.D.-1000 A.D.), which began with the invasions of the Arabs (712 A.D.) in the beginning of the 8th cent. A.D. and ended with Āfghānisthān's passing into the hands of the Turks in 997 A.D., Jainism did not flourish very much for the lack of royal support in the north, though it was very popular among the merchants and bankers in the north.62 In the south, on the other hand, it enjoyed an extensive royal patronage. In fact, in the Deccan there was no rival of Jainism, and as Altekar63 thinks that perhaps one-third of the population of the Deccan was following the doctrines and teachings of Mahāvīra. But afterwards owing to the rise of the Lingāyata sect, Jainism received a serious set-back.
During the period under review, Jainism did not have any appreciable influence in Bengal. It is noticeable that in the inscriptions of the Pālas, no reference to Jainism is found. 64
During the period of the Chāpa dynasty65 whose one branch ruled from Vardhamāna and the other from
62. Majumdar, ibid., Vol-IV, p. 287. 63. Rāstrakuțas and their times, Poona, 1934. 64. Majumdar, ibid., Vol-IV, p. 288. 65. Majumdar, ibid., Vol-IV, pp. 288-89.