Jain Journal 2001 07

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

Page 34

KUMAR: INFLUENCE OF BHAGAVĀN MAHĀVĪRA'S TEACHINGS ON TAMILS
This obeisance to the Siddhas was a secular prayer in those days which, later on, lost significance. But the term Palli still remains.
The Jains and Jaina ascetics were responsible for the enrichment of Tamil literature. They popularised palmscript writing and literary
activities.
"Jains had been great students and copyists of books"1
"It was through the fostering care of the Jains that the South seems to have been inspired with new ideals and literature enriched with new forms and expressions.'
"12
29
The contribution of the Jains to Tamil literature is inestimable. They have enriched the Tamil language in an organised manner. There are Jaina works on grammar, Kavyas, linguistics, lexicography, ethics, maths, music and philosophy. Most of these are contributed by ascetics who never mentioned their names. In many of the Purāņas and Kāvyas some of the modern scientific principles are explained in clear terms. ('Nilakeŝi-a Tamil Kavya speaks how Rainbow is formed, plants are living beings-evolution-clinical tests of faces and urine etc.)
"That what is known as Augustanage of Tamil literature was also the age of the predominance of the Jains."
"3
Equality of women to education is first established by the Jains. There are many inscriptional evidences that support this. The Jaina women were well-versed in scriptures and other fields. They spread their knowledge to other women irrespective of caste and creed. Jain nuns conducted schools and colleges exclusively for women. When the women are forbidden from the field of education, it is the Jaina influence that created many women stalwarts among Tamils. AVVAI, KURATHI, KAUNTI etc. are the terms that refer to the learned women of Tamilnadu. There are many Tamil works that are addressed to women. This also shows the concern of the Jains towards the education of Tamil women which is an influence of Bhagavan Mahavira's teachings.
Equality of women for religious study spread among Tamils due to Jaina influence.
Arts and Architecture
The influence of the Jains in the fields of Arts and Architecture is
1. Burnell; South Indian Palaeography.
2.
Literary History of India.
3.
M.S. Ramasamy Iyengar: "Studies in South Indian Jainism".