Jaina Monuments of Andhra

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

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Jaina Monuments of Andhra
Rajan have written on the history of Jainism in India, but we do not find adequate and comprehensive picture of Jaina faith in Andhra in their works. Recently, few attempts were made here and there and few books have been published dealing with various aspects of Jainism in Andhra. Sri S. Gopalakrishna Murti's Jaina vestiges in Andhra published in 1963, Hyderabad, Dr. B.S.L. Hanumanta Rao's Religion in Andhra published in 1973, Guntur, are the books which have discussed the history of Jainism in Andhra ignoring Art and Architecture and epigraphical material. My recent book, Jainism in Andhra (as depicted in inscriptions) published in 1994, Hyderabad, is the only book, first of its kind, dealing with Jainism comprehensively. Although it is published very recently, it leaves completely Jaina Art and Architecture in Andhra. Thus the available books on Jainism in Andhra do not adequately dwell upon its history in Andhra. Hence an exclusive work on Jaina Monuments of Andhra was a long felt need.
At this juncture, I approached the I.C.H.R, New Delhi with a project, Jaina Monuments of Andhra. Realising its importance, they kindly accepted the project and provided financial assistance to me in the year 1991. Thus I am duty bound to acknowledge the debt of gratitude I owe to the I. C.H.R., New Delhi. With the assistance of I.C.H.R, I have personally visited each and every Jaina-site in Andhra and made a detailed study of the monuments. The whole report is based mainly on the Jaina vestiges at a host of sites in Andhra. The literary as well as epigraphical sources, which have been found to agree with the details of Art and Architecture of the Jaina monuments have been taken and utilised in this work. Accounts from the traditions and Kaifiyats have also been taken into consideration as and when they synchronise with the recorded evidence.
As noted above, the territory of Andhra occupies a rather inconspicuous place in the annals of Jainism in South India. But however its impact was certainly felt by the Andhras as seen from the early historical period to the 14th century A.D., in different parts. It is also evident from the Jaina epigraphs that the people of Andhra came under the direct influence of Jainism and fervently followed the path prescribed by the Jain law. Jainism, unlike Buddhism, reached its