Jain Journal 1997 07

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

Page 22

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KUMARI : KARNATAKA-TAMIL NADU JAINA RELATIONS founded a Jaina Samgam at Madurai with a view to establishing the glory of Jainism in that country. This Samgam is believed to have been established to train the Jaina ascetics and scholars engaged in religious propaganda. According to Digambara Darsana, the Jaina Samgam was formed in about 470 A.D.53 Interesting evidence to this effect is available in Periyapurana which refers to a host of Karnataka Jains pouring into Madurai like cloud burst. This event must have preceded the foundation of the Jaina Samgha at Madurai.54
Keeping in view, the existing situation in Tamil Nadu where the religious disputations were held frequently at the instance of the rulers, the Jaina ascetics must have felt the necessity of adding dignity to their literature. With that intention it is believed that Vajranandi ācārya established the Jaina Samgham at Madurai.55 This great event must have taken place prior to the period of great Nayanar Saints, Appar and Tirujnana Sambandhar. It was at this time that Jaina ascetics moved through out Tamil Nadu and lived side by side with the other religious groups.56
Devasena, the author of Darśanasāra, throws light on the hardships undertaken by the monks of Dravida Samgha, i.e. the Tamil Samgham led by Vajranandi to mobilise the economic and spiritual strength of the Jains and of Jaina institution in Tamil Nadu and to safeguard their interests.57 Devasena has also remarked that Vajranandi ācārya, the founder of the Dravida Samgha, gained great demerits by cultivating the land and carrying on mercantile activities to earn livelihood.58 It appears that ascetics belonging to this Samgha carried the holy mission of Jainism far and wide.
Ascetics of Dravida Samgha and Arunkalanvaya appear to have centralised their activities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.59 The inscriptions having reference to this monastic order mostly come from these areas. The contents of the records emphasise enormous influence exerted by them specially in the royal families and the elite class. The inscriptions inform us in very clear terms of their multifarious activities like generosity, proficiency in śāstras, efficiency in capturing public mind.* The ascetics belonging to the various sub-branches of this main order were influential until the
Two inscriptions discovered at Mullur in Somavarpet Taluk of Karnataka refer to Gunasena Pandita of the Dravida Sangha of the Arunkalanvaya. He was the preceptor of Pocabbarasi, the mother of Kongalva ruler Rajendra. One of the above inscriptions also lauds his proficiency in Grammar, Agama and Logic. The King Rajendra Kongalva and his mother Pocabbarasi are stated to have renovated the Pärsvanātha basadi at