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early centuries after Christ. They also guarded the residences of wealthy persons and formed the fighting forces of the Cera kings. They were employed as escorts and guards to Jaina ascetics who travelled on foot to distant places crossing formidable rivers, hills and forests haunted by wild animals covering long distances to reach their destinations for preaching the religion of ahimsa and for humanitarian activities. The Cera kings were also Nayars like the fighting forces of the army. According to the ancient history of Karnataka, the Nayars, Chettys, Wodeyars and many other sub-castes of the modern Hindu community are lineal descendants of Yadavas of Dvaraka who migrated to different parts of India after the demise of Srikrsna and the destruction of Dvaraka by tidal waves of the sea. Srikrsna and the ancestors of these Hindu sub-castes were nonAryans and were Jainas but in later centuries their descendants were converted to Saivism.1 There are Hindus in Kerala, Bihar, Maharastra and many other States in India holding the prefix of Yadava to their proper Hindu names. Some historians have even suggested that the origin of Nayar could be directly or indirectly attributed to the Naya or Nata subclan of the Licchavis of Magadha to which Mahavira belonged. Mahavira is often referred to as Nayaputta or Nataputta in the Jaina and Buddhist scriptures. Further scriptural researches may prove this view.
[To be cotinued]
1 Vide writer's article on Sri Krsna, Jain Journal, October, 1984.
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MUNI NANDIGHOSHA VIJAY, A Jain ascetic.
LEONA SMITH KREMSER, Leads a dedicated life for Aristanemi and Jainism.
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SATYAVRATA, Deptt. of P. G. Studies in Sanskrit, Govt. College, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.
A. EKAMBARANATHAN, Deptt. of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Madras, Madras.
SAJJAN SINGH LISHK, Govt. In-service Training Centre, Patiala, Punjab.
V. G. NAIR, Author and writer.
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