Jainism and Mahavira

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Digambar Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Sanskaran Samiti

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tan). Digambara Jaina monks have been in Iran, Siam, and Philistia !. Greek writers also mention their existence in Egypt, Abysiniya and Ethyopia®. It had also propagated in Kambuj, Campa, Bulgaria and some other foreign countries. ART AND ARCHITECTURE
The Jainas have been amongst the foremost in contributing to the field of art and architecture since early days. The images of Tirthankara Rasbhadeva and the figures of standing or sealed nude Yogins found inscribed on some terracotta seats, relics of the prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization, discovered at Mohenjodaro, as well as nude Harrappan red stone statue are almost equally old. The latter is remarkably akin to the polished stone torse of a Jina image from Lohanipur (Patna) which is ascribed to the Mauryan times (4th c. B.C.). King Kharavela of Kalinga, as the Hathigumpha inscriptions speaks, reinstalled the Jaina image which had been taken away by Nanda to Magadha in (4th c. B.C.) During the Satavahana period (60 B.C. to 225 A.D.) Mathura and Saurastra were the main centres. The earliest Mathura sculpture represented by Kankalitila where from Ayagaptta. Stupa, images, and other Jaina cultural material are recovered. Gandhara art and Mathura art belong to Kusana period (First B.C. to 2nd A.D.) in which Jainism flourished to Mathura and the Ardhaphalaka sect, Yapaniya Sangha and Nagara art came into existence.
Gupta period (4th to 7th C.A.D.) is said to be the golden period of ancient Indian Culture. Harigupta, Siddhasena, Harisena, Ravikirti, Pujyapada, Patrakesari, Udyotanasuri and other Jainacaryas have been in existence during the period. karnataka, Mathura, Hastinapur, Saurastra, Avanti, Ahicchatra, Bhinnamala, Kausambi, Devagumpha, Vidisa, Sravasti, Varanasi, Vaisali, Pataliputra, Rajagraha, Campa etc. were the main Jaina centres of art and architecture. After the Gupta period, Kakkula, Vatsaraja, and Mahendrapala were the Jaina kings in the Pratihara dynasty. King Munja, Navasahasanka and Bhoia were followers of Jainism. Dhanapala. Amitagati. Manikyanandi, Prabhacandra, Asadhara, Dhananjaya etc. had contributed to the literary field during the same period. Cittod was the capital of Paramaras where Kalakacarya and Haribhadra devoted their lives for the development of Jaina art and architecture.
During Candela dynasty, Khajuraho, Devagadh, Mahoba, Madanapur, Canderi, Ahar, Papora, and Gwaliar became famous
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