Jainism and Mahavira

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

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for their Jaina art. Some important inscriptions, Toranas, images and other sculptural material are found in Tripuri.
As mentioned earlier, Bihar has been a prominent state since very early days with regard to Jaina culture. It is the Parinirvanabhumi of so many Tirthankaras and is enriched through Jaina statues, relics, sculpture etc. at Rajagrih, Nalanda, Parsvanatha hill, Simhabhumi, Barabar hill, Patna, Pavapuri etc. The earliest Jaina images are recovered in Bengal from Surohar and Mandoil of Mathura style. The images of Jaina Tirthankaras found in Udisa at Udaigiri-Khandagiri, and some other places such as Keonjhar, Mayurabhanja, Jaipur, Cuttack are very beautiful from artistic point or view.
Gujarat and Rajasthan have been strongholds of Jainism since an early time. Satrunjaya, Girinar, are Siddhaksetras of Jainas. Rastrakutas and Calukyas, Pratiharas, Paramaras, Cauhan and other dynasties patronised Jainism and its art and architecture. Hemacandracarya was a court poet of Jayasimha and Kumarapala. Vastupala and Tejapala who were ministers of Baghelas of Solanki branch built a large number of Jaina temples at Girinar, Abu, Satrunjaya, etc. They are also found in large number at Ranakapur, Udaipur, Sirohi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Alwar and so many places. The existence of Jainism in Punjab and Sindh can traced out long before the Christian era, from the sites of Mohanjodaro, Harappa, Taksasila, Simhapur, Sindhudesh, Lahore etc.
The inscriptional history of Jainism in Maharashtra starts with the Parle inscription of first c. A.D. which commences with "Namo Arihantanam". Keljhar, Pavanar, Nagpur, Bhandara, Ramtek, Akola, Karanja, Achalpur, Latur,Bhadravati etc. are main Jain ancient sites with archaeological remains. Sirpur is famous for its artistic decoration. Malakhed was found inhabitated when Padaliptacarya visited in about Ist c.A.D. Jaina caves are found at Ellora, Nasik, Dharasiva, (Osmanabad) etc. Pratishthanpur, Belgaon, Kolhapur, Ehol, Alaktakanagara, Kunthalgiri, Ardhapur, Kandhar, Karanataka (Karad), Mahimagiri, Vatapi, Meghuni etc. have been main centres of Jainism where huge and magnificient Jaina temples idols and inscriptions are found. Mrgesavarvarman's inscription (450-478 A.D.) states that a huge donation was made to Digambaras, Svetambaras, Kurcakas and Yapaniyas. Belagaon and Kolhapur were also ruled over by Silaharas of Konkana who
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