Jaina Monuments of Andhra

Author(s): G Jawaharlal
Publisher: Sharada Publishing House Delhi

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PREFACE
Jainism, like Buddhism is one of the oldest religions of India, since ancient times. In Andhra, it is interesting to note that Jainism, like Buddhism found favour and enjoyed prevalence and popularity on an equal scale, if not more. An examination of the various antiquarian remains and sites in Andhra, reveals that Buddhism held firm ground in the early centuries of the Christian era in coastal Andhra; whereas Jainism was in exalted position in Rayalasima and Telangana regions. Later on, Buddhism practically vanished from Andhra, while Jainism continued as a living force. According to tradition recorded in the Haribhadriya-Vritti, Mahavira himself preached his doctrine in the regions of Kalinga and Masolia (i.e., modern Machilipatnam in Krishna district). Hence it is commonly believed that the tenets of Jainism, particularly, Ahimsa, were familiar to the people of Andhra even before the gospel of Buddha reached them. Thus, the early prevalence of Jainism in Andhra must have paved way for the popularity of Buddhism in this land in no time. The Jains constitute today a small community in Andhra, but once they commanded great respect among the Andhras. The Jaina Monuments and inscriptions are strong enough to show that Jainism held firm ground in Andhra as a widely popular religion for twelve centuries or even more. Robert Sewell was the first to report the existence of Jaina antiquities and remains in almost all the districts of Andhra. In a word, there is hardly any village in -Andhra that was not touched by Jainism.
Even then, the state of Andhra Pradesh occupies a rather much insignificant position in the long history of Jainism although, its impact was wide spread, like the other heretic faith, i.e., Buddhism. While all aspects of Buddhism in Andhra are well studied and documented, very little is written about Jainism. Scholars like Ramaswami Ayyangar, Saletor, Desai, Deo, Seshagiri Rao, Sivaramamurthy and Soundara