Jain Journal 1969 04

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

Page 54

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JAIN JOURNAL
ulaikkalam, etc., from the Nalanjiyarppalli and other connected establishments should not be mortgaged to others'. The inscription on palaeographic grounds may be placed in the 10th century A.D.
According to Shri P. B. Desai, the term Palli is closely associated with Jainism. The term 'Pallikudam' mean a school which was initially associated with a monastery or temple in ancient times and the Jaina teachers were renowned for their learning and educational activities.
The earliest reference to the grant known as Pallichchandan occurs about the 9th century A.D. and in the Cola and Pandya rulers' grants from the 9th to the 13th centuries, the term occurs frequently. These appear to have been exclusive grants to Jaina ascetic orders or temples.
The Alatur discovery is an important landmark in the history of Jainism in Kerala in view of its proximity to Kangudesa, which according to the present evidences included parts of Mysore, Coimbatore and Salem. The Kongudesa Rajakkal gives a succession of twentyeight princes, of whom the first seven are said to belong to the Reddi community. The Kongunadu is as old as the other three Tamil kingdoms and there are references to it in Patirrupattu, Silappadikaram, etc. The Kangudesa Rajakkal is supported by inscriptions which give details of the dynasty and their patronage to Jainism. Invariably all monarchs patronised Jainism and professed the faith. Most of the inscriptions refer to some grant to Jaina temples or orders. Jainism was very popular till the beginning of the 12th century A.D. in Kangunadu. Only on the find of new relics in the present districts of Kerala with clear inscriptional evidences it would be possible to correlate the patronage of the Kangu Ceras in the spread ofJainism in the Cera empire which also lost its predominance sometime about 1102 A.D.