Jain Journal 1972 04

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

Page 56

194
JAIN JOURNAL
Gujarat and Kathiawad :
The association of Jainism and Gujarat have been, according to Jaina literary sources, a matter of remote antiquity. It is said that Neminatha, the 22nd Tirthankara renounced the world in Kathiawad.
Coming to the historical period, we may not be wrong in supposing that "the first wave of Jainism passed over Gujarat-Kathiawad when Bhadrabahu went to the south in the 4th century B.C.” We have, however, no literary or epigraphic evidence to corroborate the statement.
A more definite proof of the Jaina contact with Gujarat can be had in Junagadh inscription of the grandson of Jayadaman, the ruler, which refers to ‘kevalajñāna', a purely Jaina technical term signifying omniscience. Along with this, in the Bawa Prara caves at Junagadh we find Jaina symbols like the svastika, bhadrāsana, nandipada, Minayugala and others which resemble with those found on the āyāgapațas at the Jaina stūpa at Mathura.
Another indication of the early Jaina settlements in Kathiawad is evidenced by the Jaina images of c. 300 A.D. found at Dhank in Gondal State. Coming to the early medieval period we have scanty evidence about the state of Jainism in Gujarat. But it may be noted that the Gujarat branch of the Pratiharas had two kings named Jayabhatta and Dadda whose titles ‘Vitaraga' and 'Prasantaraga' betray traces of Jaina influence.
Unfortunately no archaeological information under the Gujarat Calukyas regarding the prevalence of Jainism is available, while under the Rastrakutas of Gujarat, the existence of Jainism is evidenced by the Rastrakuta copper-plate of A.D. 821 falling under the reign of Karkaraja Suvarnavarsva, mentioning the Sena sangha, a branch of Mula sangha and the existence of Jaina temple and monastary (vasahikā) at Nagasarika (mod. Navasari). In the absence of any archaeological or literary evidence, it is difficult to measure the full extent of Jaina influence in this region.
Valabhi, which is known from traditional sources to be a stronghold of the Jainas after their exodus from Magadha, is scarcely referred to be so in the inscriptions. This non-confirmation by epigraphical evidence, let alone archaeological, is surprising.