Jain Journal 1976 01

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

Page 36

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JAIN JOURNAL
of Jainadharma in the old Jaina-inhabited countries as well as in new Jaina-inhabited countries by all means.
Cultural Impact of Jainadharma in Extreme South
In Ramnad and Tinnaveli caves, although the inscritptions of Brahmilipi are indistinct, nevertheless, it is proved by them and the oldest Tamil works that there flourished Jainadharma in that land of Tamil Nadu at very ancient times. A distinct cultural impact of this religion is found in the Tamil Kävya Kurāl and Tholakappiyam100. Although Manimekhalai is the oldest Buddhist Kavya, there are many common references to the Digambara monks and their instructions in religion. Jivaka, Cintamani Sikhappadikāram Nilakesī, Yasodhara Kāvya, etc. are clearly the Jaina works101. There is found mention of the association of the great celebrated Jainacarya Samantabhadra with Kanci. The relation of Kundakundacarya, with this place has been stated by Sivakumara Maharaja, one of his commentators. Sarvanandi, the author of the Prakrit work-Loka-Vibhāga (458) is stated to be the contempora of Simhavarman, the king of Kanci102. According to Darśanasāra, the foundation of Dravida Sangha was laid by Vajranandi, the disciple of Pujyapada at Madura in 470 A.D.103. In this way it is well supported by many evidences and different events that in the early centuries of the Christian era the progagation of Jainadharma and its expansion were made by the Jaina missions in Tamil Nadu104.
Jaina Mission to Kanyākumārī
The study of the evidences of the Jaina missions to Tamil Nadu and Ceylon, as already pointed out, shows the expansion of Jainadharma to Kanyakumari (Cape Comerin), the southern most district of India. The Jaina missionaries went to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Ceylon to propagate Jainadharma. Muni Visakha led the Jaina mission to Cera, Cola and Pandya kingdoms in Tamil Nadu from the forward base of Sravana Belgola for preaching religion there105. Jainadharma flourished in Tamil Nadu in the third century B. C. as indicated by the Brahmi inscriptions found at Madurai, Sittanavasal and Phalagha. As already mentioned, Jainism reached Ceylon before the third century
100 Bharatiya Samskrti-men Jaindharma-ka Yogdan, p. 36. 101 Ibid. 102 Ibid. 103 Ibid., Darsanasara. 104 Bharatiya Samskrti-men Jaindharma-ka Yogdan, p. 36. 106 Jain Journal, October, 1969, p. 91.