Jain Journal 1994 04

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

Page 16

APRIL, 1994
etc, which were already throbbing with Jaina activities. The choice of the location of these Hindu temples deserve special mention as they are found in close proximity to the caverns which were once occupied by the wind-clad Jaina ascetics. Thus, their choice was "apparently more prompted by intent and less by chance", and they reflect the 'occupational attitude' of the Jaina centres by the Hindus.
The Jaina Approach:
The Jaina adherents, true to their faith, had not resorted to any violent means to counteract the antagonistic attitude of brahmanical followers. Instead, they assimilated many elements from brahmanism and accommodated them suitably in their own religion. Changes had been accepted in the mode of worship and iconographic forms of the Šāsanadevatās. However, in late medieval times, the Jains had also shown discontent in a milder way against brahamanical sects. Their literary compositions like Tirukkalambakam and Tirunūṛṛantāti assert superiority of the Jina over the Hindu gods like Brahma, Viṣņu and Śiva. At time, they are ridiculed in a lighter vein,31 But these had never brought about any adverse effect in the domain of Saivism and Vaiṣṇavism.
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The Jains resorting to conversion of Hindu temples is unheard in their religious history. The Mackenzie Manuscripts, on the other hand, make a mention of the conversion of a Śiva temple into a Jaina shrine at Veñjamānkūḍalore in Kongu country. This tradition cannot be accepted as the Śiva temple of the village had never been subjected to religious conversion.
There are instances to show that the Jains had utilised building materials of defunct Hindu temples and utilised in their constructions. The unfinished Vilappakkam rock-cut temple, abandoned by the Hindus owing to failure of the pillars, making further work unsafe, was occupied by Jains, who at that time carved a bas relief of Tirthankara on the ledge of the temple.38
The Parsvanatha temple at Chittamür has a Kalasasthāpana maṇḍapa in the form of a chariot drawn by two elephants. Part of the
30 K. R. Srinivasan Cave temples of the Pallavas, p. 31
31 Tirukkalambakam, verses, 30, 48; Tirunuṛantāti verses. 24, 26, 40
32 Mackenzie Manuscripts, No. 18:15
33 K. R. Srinivasan. Op. cit, pp. 96-97