Jain Journal 1969 04

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

Page 95

200
JAIN JOURNAL
As said above, the greatest evidence in support of the propagation of Jainism in Rajasthan is contained in the Badli inscription. Dated the 84th year after the death of Mahavira it has a mention of a place called Majjhamika. This is the same Madhyamika of Chittore of which Patanjali makes mention in his Mahābhāsya. Its present name is Nagari. The Madhyamika branch of the Jaina śramaņa order was named after this place. The foundation of the city was laid by Priyagrantha, a disciple of Suhasti in the 3rd century B.C. and an inscription of the same date contained the following words 'for all beings'. The probability is that this is a Jaina inscription establishing the existence of Jainism in Rajasthan at this time.
Jainism during the Maurya era-During the Maurya era, Jainism had a prosperous time. Literary evidence and inscriptions indicate beyond doubt that Candragupta Maurya was a Jaina. His empire contained a portion of Rajasthan ; for an inscription by his grandson has been recovered from Bairath. Candragupta had established many temples. According to the poet Sundara Gani of the 17th century, he had installed the Parsvanatha image in the temple of Ghanghani.
Although Asoka was a follower of Buddhism, he was not unsympathetic to Jainism. He had dug out caves in the hills of Barabar for the residence of Ajivika monks. His inscriptions mention of gifts made by him to the Nirgranthas and Ajivikas. His grandson Sampriti who succeeded him to the throne did as much for the propagation of Jainism as his grand-father Asoka had done for Buddhism. In the Jaina history, he is known as Jaina Asoka. According to tradition he erected many temples and images in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Malava. According to Col. Todd, the temple at Kumbhalmer was constructed by Sampriti ; but this is not correct. For, this temple seems to be of a later period, of about 13th century A.D., and bears similarity to the temple at Abu. But its construction remained incomplete. According to the Nandlai inscription, the local Jaina Sangha reconstructed the temple of king Sampriti at Nandlai in V.S. 1686.
Greek view on Western India—-From the Greek sources too we come to know many things about Western India. According to them, many nudist monks whom they called 'Gymnosophists' used to move about in this region. They exposed themselves to hardships and courted death by starvation. They held a position of esteem in society. Many ladies practised restraint and studied religion and philosophy under their guidance. They made no discrimination on grounds of caste and sex but gave a high place to conduct. They used to worship the