Jain Journal 2002 07

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

Page 51

Dr. B. K. Khadabadi: Contribution of Jainism
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and Prakrit works, some works of Jain Philosophy, metaphysics and numerous charitas. Small Purāņas moral stories, guides of religious rites, devotional songs, hymns etc. produced from 1450 upto 1850 A.D. We must note here that prior to all this, in early days there must have necessarily been Jain literature in Apabhraṁśa. But it is not available now. The literary language that grew up from Apabhramsa in Maharasthra is the Marathi existed prior to the Vivekasindhu composed in 1200 A.D., the earliest available literary work in Marathi.
In conclusion, it may be observed that though late, within the limitations of the then circumstances, Jainism contributed its own mite to the culture of Maharashtra.
Tamil Nadu
Now, I propose to give some special attention to Tamil Nadu, within the general scheme of contribution of Jainism to the culture of South India by trying to give solutions to some of the much discussed and not duly solved problems connected with the world famous classic Kural and its author Tiruvalluvar.
The country of Tamil Nadu and its people have their own cultural pattern and position. The Tamil people form about one-fifth of the total Indian population and one hundredth of the World population. The Tamil language happends to possess a distinct position, in respect of antiquity and its still preserving maximum Proto-Dravidian features among the Dravidian group of Indian lauguage viz., Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayam. Moreover with their far ancient or pre-Aryan historical background, with the peculiar geographical situation of their land, with their trade contacts with overseas people of different civilisations and cultures in the West as well as in the East and with the infiltration and impact of North-Indian unorthodox religions like Jainism and Buddhism and later Vedic Brahmanism, the Tamilians have their own cultural traditions and way of like and yet they form a significant cohesive unit of the colourful civilisation and cultural tratidions of India as a whole. And in shaping such cultural traditions and way of life of the Tamil people, Jainism has played its own significant role for several centuries and has made its own contribution.
After a long time and careful research, eminent scholars have come to conclusive opinion that Jainism appeared in the Tamil country