Jainism in India

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 82

JAINISM IN INDIA
Under the Pratiharas-Jainism had a good time under the Pratiharas. There is a Mahavira temple at Osia that was built by Vatsaraja. Jinasena has mentioned of this king in his Harivamsapurāna written in 783 A.D. He was succeeded in 792 A.D. by his son Nagabhatta. He is better known as Ama. He was a great admirer of the Jaina monk Bappabhatta Suri and at his orders Jaina temples were constructed at many places. In 840 A.D. Mihirbhoja ascended the throne and he was deeply influenced by Nanna Suri and Govinda Suri. Kakkuka was the Pratihara king at Mandor. He was a Sanskrit scholar and protector of Jainism. According to Ghatiyala inscription, he had erected a Jaina temple in 861 A.D.
Under the Cauhanas--Jainism spread widely under the Cauhanas. Jinadatta Suri was a contemporary of Arnaraja. Arnaraja used to visit the savant at Ajmer every day. He donated land to the followers of Jinadatta for the construction of a temple. The Vijolia inscription (V.S. 1169) clearly mentions that Prithviraja I had donated a village named Morjuri to meet the expenses of the Parsvanatha temple. After him Şomesvara, better known as Pratapalamkesvara, ascended the throne. He donated a village named Reuana to the same temple with a desire to find a seat in heaven. His successor Prithviraja II was very fond of intellectual duels. In one such duel in his court held in V.S. 1192 in which the participants were Jinapati Suri and Pandit Padmaprabha, the former came out with flying colours.
The Cauhans reigned at Nadola during 960-1252 A.D. Asvaraja. Cauhan was a feudatory of Kumarapala. He embraced Jainism and suspended animal slaughter in his kingdom. His inscriptions bear testimony to his numerous gifts to the Jaina shrines. His son Rayapala who succeeded him was a worthy son and he made gifts of land, corn and money to the temples. Many temples were erected in the domain of Alhanadeva and Kalhanadeva who also made many a gift.
Under Cavadas and Caulukyas--Jainism had a good time under the Cavadas and Caulukyas. The former line was founded by Vanaraja. He had invited Silagana Suri to visit his kingdom and was prepared to place his whole domain at his feet. This he did because when child Vanaraja was lying in a cradle in the forest, the Jaina savant had made a forecast of his future kingship. Suriji however would not accept the gift of the kingdom; but it was at his orders that Vanaraja erected the Pancasara temple at Anahilapura Patan and installed a Parsvanatha image there. He also invited the Jaina merchants of Srimal and Maru
dharadesa to settle at Anahilapura Patan.