________________
236
The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
occasion, Sātvāhana king gifted giant ships for carrying elephants as per inscription. The excavation at Vaddamānu in Guntur district in Andhra Pradesa reveals that it was originally a Jaina centre, even the name Vaddhamānu sounds like Vardhamāna. The rulers of Andhra and Karnātaka- Cālukyas (early and late), Rāștrakutas and Kalcuris had liberally given grants to the Basadis. Nearly about 200 ancient Jaina shrinesl present a powerful pervasive picture of deep rooted impact of Jaina religion. The Jaina Mathas and monasteries at Bodhan, Hanumankondā, Vijayavādā, Kollipake, etc. thrived as the meridian of Jaina activities while the great poets Somdevasuri, Ponnā, Pampā and Rannā enriched the language and history of the state of Karnataka. At Tamil Nadu (North-east) : The Jaina group then entered the North-east region of Tamil Nadu which proved to be a fertile ground for the diffusion of Jainism, the Colā, Pāndya and Pallava prince-princess followed Jainism with dedication. The earliest architectural activities in the region commence with the Jainas natural caverns where sleeping beds for recluses were chiselled out in the rocks which are assigned to c. 3rd to 2nd B.C. Out of 89 early Tamil Brahmi inscriptions 85 are credited to Jaina affiliation engraved in the hill ranges around Madurai, Pudukottai and Tirunelveli. Their contribution in the state is amazing, the four Mahā-kavyas of Tamil literature- Nāldiyāra, Silāppadigrām, Jivakacintāmani and Kundalakesi are composed by Jainas. Even Tiruvalluvara's Kural also said to be written by Jaina Ācārya. Towards Simhal Island (Ceylon) : From Tamilnadu Jainism spread to Simhala Island (Ceylon) in early Christian era, as per the Buddhist scripture Mahāvamsa, which mentions about the king Pāndukābhaya who patronised Nirgratha Śramanas4. When Buddhism entered Ceylon, the Jainas were pushed back from Anurādhāpur in last century B. C., then they reached western Tamilanadu which has common boundaries with ancient Cera kingdom (now Kerala) consists
1
2 3 4
G. Jawahar, "Jainism in Andhra" at Seminar on Spectrum of Jainism in South India,'at Somaiya College, Bombay, Ibid Iravatham mahadevan: 'Early Tamil Epigraphy'; 2002. Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiya, an article on Jainism in Tamilnadu', at Seminar at Somaiya college, op.cit.
