Jainism

Author(s): Vallabh Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabh Smarak Nidhi

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province and to a particular language. Almost in very part of India and almost in every lan. guage they have achieved marvels. If we cast a glance at the sacred places of Pilgrimages and the innumerable Jain Temples in every part of India and several other religious institutions, we shall feel convinced of the fact that the Jains spread far and wide over India. From the life of Shri Mahavir we found, that during the last thirty-two years of his life, he visited almost all the important places in India and converted provinces after provinces to Jainism. Kosal, Videha, :Magadha, Anga and Bihar were the chief places of his Missionary activity. His travels extended even as far as the foot of the Himalayas and the wild country of Arabia. The Digambar Acharyas converted the whole of Tailangan and Karnatic to Jainism. This widespread activity of the Jains naturally led them to help the advancement of several other languages, besides Prakrit and Sanskrit. Dr. Buhler says:—"In southern India where they worked among the Dravidian tribes, they also advanced the development of their languages.
The Canarese literary language and the Tamil and Telgu, rest on the foundations laid