Jain System in Nutshell

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Nij Gyan Sagar Shiksha Kosh Santa MP

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(13) History of Jainism: A Royal Patronage
Despite being numerically a minor Indian religion, Jainsm has spread far and wide in diffrent parts of the world. The monks, the merchants and royalites have played a dominant part in preaching the Jaina teachings and their wider popularity without proselytising attitude. The political patronage has, however, been mainly responsible for its survival and multi- dimensional spread for about 1800 years after Mahavira. Though Jinist principles are univeraslly applicable, why it could not attract masses in proportion to other religions all the world over-is a point for scholars to peep into:
Mahavira was fortunate in being related with many royalties of his times. Most of them and their immediate successors helped glorifying Jainism in eastern India. That is why there were about a third of a million followers of Mahavira. Many of Jain monks had good relations with the contemporary royalties in north, west, east and south india including even Srilanka. Some of patronising royalties of northern India include Shrenik Bimbsar, Ajatshatru, Nanda dynasty, Chandrgupta Maurya, Samprati, Mitra dynasty, Gupta dynasty, Harsh, Yasho Varman, Pratiharas, Chandelas, Moghuls and Akabar and others who helped Jaina art, architechture and culture to flourish'. Jains had troubled times too partly during Ashokan and Shung periods and they had to move away from Magadh through two routes: allowing the Jaina teachings to spresd throughout India in the coming centuries. The first route passed through Kalinga to South India and the second route passed through Mathura, Ujjain, and Gujrat leading again to the south. The Jainas were supported by the middle classes in these distant lands.
The Bengal and Kaling royalties of second century BC also patronised the Jainas and even a monk council was held at Kumari mountain in about 180 BC in Kalinga. This patronisation, however, did not last long.
Mathura, Ujjain and Ballabhi became the most influential patronisers of Jainas during pre-christian era upto 5-6th century A.D. The Svetambara sect (white clad) developed strongly in this part. Acharya Shilgunsurji helped establishing the Kingdom of Gujrat in ninth century. Later, Vanraj, Jạisingh and Kumarpal helped jainism to be virtually a state religion in the west. This influence can still be found smelling in this part of the country
The different parts of southern India proved to be stronghold for Digambaras for more than a milleneum AD. Bhadrabahu and Mauryan kings had planted Jainism there. A Digambara clad monk, Simhnandi helped establishing Ganga dynasty which patronised Jainism for 500 years. This was followed by Hoysal patrons through the monk Sudatta.