Jain Journal 1976 01

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

Page 33

The Missions of Jaina Sangha
J. C. SIKDAR
The Jaina Mission in South India
According to the Jaina tradition, Bhadrabahu came to take the charge of Jaina Sangha after the demise of his guru Govardhana and predicted that Northern India would be ravaged by famine during the next twelve years. He made a great influence on king Candragupta Maurya with the teachings of Jainadharma. So when he decided to emigrate to the South, having entrusted the duty of looking after the monks to his colleague, Sthulabhadra and left Magadha, king Candragupta also went to the South with him by abdicating the throne in favour of his son Bindusara. Bhadrabahu came to Sravana Belgola with the retinue of his followers. Even to-day one hill is called Candragiri after the name of Candragupta, existing at Sravana Belgola belonging to Mysore (Karnataka)81. On this hill there also are stated to be some caves in which Bhadrabahu observed austerity and breathed his last, leaving the leadership of the Sangha to Visakha. The king stayed with him upto the last. In this way the advent of Jainadharma into South India took place at the time of king Candragupta 82
According to Jocobi, it is a trustworthy account. In the middle of the fourth century B. C. North India fell a prey to the dynastic competition which resulted in the establishment of the Maurya dynasty. These fights were dangerous for the religious sects and serious economic troubles. It is also striking to note that a section of the Jaina Community went to the south under the guidance of Bhadrabahu. The tradition of this expansion of one branch of Jaina Sangha to the South is constant and different epigraphic evidences 83 confirm it. The followers of Bhadrabahu in all probability settled in Canada (Kanada country). The climate of the region permitted them to go nude. It was the forward base of expansion of Jaina mission for its missionary work in Andhradesa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka by enriching the culture of the South
81 Bharatiya Samskrti-men Jaindharma-ka Yogdan, p. 35. 82 See Jaina Silalekh Sangraha, pt. II, pp. 69-76, Inscrr. Nos. 98, 99, 100 ;
See J. S. S., Pt. I. 88 See Inscr. No. 105 for reference to Bhadrabahu, p. 196. J. S. S., pt. I.