Jaina Art and Architecture Vol 01

Author(s): A Ghosh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 43

CHAPTER 3]
THE EXPANSION OF JAINISM
ruling in Kalinga in the first (according to some, scoond) century B.C. This record says that the king, in his twelfth regnal year, brought back to Kalinga the Kalinga Jina that had been taken away by the Nanda-raja to Magadha. This means that Jainism had spread to the Kalinga region by the time of the Nandas. The Vyavahara-Bhasya also refers to king Tosalika who was very keen on guarding a Jina image in the city of Tosali.
Some of the Mauryas, who succeeded the Nandas, seem to have patronized Jainism; for instance, there has been a consistent Jaina tradition that Candragupta had strong leaning towards Jainism. Tradition holds that Bhadrabahu, a well-known Jaina pontiff, predicted a famine of twelve long years in Magadha during the reign of Candragupta and migrated to south India along with his devoted disciple Candragupta himself. Tradition further holds that Candragupta died by practising a fast unto death (sallekhana.) It may, however, be stated that the epigraphical material that relates this incident belongs to a period as late as circa A.D. 650. In support of Jaina monks being present at the time of Candragupta, scholars point out the mention of Sarmanes (Śramana) by Megasthenes, the Greek envoy to Candragupta's court. And if we accept the tradition embodied in the epigraphs in spite of their late date, it would mean that Jainism had spread to south India even in the fourth century B.C.
The Jaina sources are silent about Bindusära, the successor of Candragupta. That Asoka, who succeeded Bindusära, was more favourable to Buddhism is a well-known fact, and this is in consonance with the complete silence of the Jaina sources on Aśoka. Some scholars try to see too much in some of Asoka's dicta like the practice of ahirns, and his proclamation that all sects must be honoured on all occasions. These may simply show Ašoka's ethical broadmindedness and his spirit of toleration, for he issued instructions that Brāhmapas, Šramapas, Nirgranthas and Ajivikas should be given proper honour and care.
The Jaina texts are, however, cloqueat about Kupala, the son of Asoka, who was a governor of the province of Ujjain. In later years Kunala secme to to have pleased his father and asked him to hand over the kingdom to him. It is stated that Asoka made Kupala's son Samprati the viceroy of Ujian in central India, and Samprati later on conquered the whole of Dakşiņapatha. However, after the death of Asoka, Samprati seems to have been in charge of Ujjain and Dasaratha in charge of Pataliputra.
1 Epigraphia Carnatica, 11, revised ed., 1923, inscription 31, pp. 6 and 7.
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