Jain Journal 1972 04

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

Page 52

190
Post-Gupta Period:
Very little is known regarding the history of India in general in the half century that followed the Guptas. Harsa who succeeded the Guptas in north India after a century or half, even though of a strong Buddhist affinities, gave grants to Jainism also.
During the post-Gupta period Jainism prospered under the rule of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Gahadvalas, Candellas and the Kalacuris in Rajputana, U.P., C.P., and C.I., while Bihar and Bengal were predominantly Buddhist under the Palas and the Senas. Orissa, which was once a centre of Jainism, turned into a Hindu centre. This does not, however, indicate that Jainism was completely wiped out from either Bihar, Bengal or Orissa.
The Pratiharas:
JAIN JOURNAL
Inspite of their Brahmanical affinities, the Kanauj Pratiharas did not suppress other sects. As a matter of fact, we come across two Jaina inscriptions belonging to the period of the Pratiharas one of which is inscribed on the pillar of a Jaina temple at Deogarh in the Lalitpur sub-division of the Jhansi District of U.P. It refers to the reign of Bhoja in which a certain man called Deva, a subject of the Mahasamanta Visnurama who was a feudatory of Bhojadeva, erected a pillar in S. 784 (862 A.D.). The same place contains "the ruins of an extensive group of Jaina temples". The other, belonging to the reign of Vatsaraja, dated V.S. 1013, and found at Osia (32 miles north of Jodhpur), refers to the construction of a Jaina temple. From these stray epigraphs and the existence of archaeological remains, it may be said, that Jainism did flourish under the Pratiharas of Kanauj.
Candellas:
Under the Candellas whose seat of kingdom was Jejabhukti, (Bundelkhand) and who ruled from c. 9th century A.D., onwards, Jainism seems to have prospered on a large scale, for several inscriptions and magnificent temples still bear witness to it.
Several kings of this dynasty favoured the building up of Jina temples. For instance, the Khajuraho Jaina temple inscription mention that a certain Jaina layman gave gifts to the jinalaya in the form of a garden (bāṭikä). This Jaina gentleman was "held in honour by Dhangaraja".