Jainism in Rajasthan

Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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VÍLI CONTRIBUTIONS OF JAINISM TO RÅJASTHAN
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running Jaina schools, encouraged the well-equipped Jaina libraries, and in several other ways ensuied respect for Jainism even by those who were not its followers Rajasthan has been ruled for the last one thousand years by Rājputs who had no hesitation in shedding the blood. That Jainism flourished in their dominions is due to the influence of the Jaina Sādhus and the leading Jaina house-holders Besides, there were a laige number of Jaina businessmen and almost in every state, a few of them even multimillionaiies. Some of them were mighty bankers and the Rājput rulers who suffered from the chronic want of necessary funds for maintaining the armies and running the administration depended mostly on loans from these rich magnates; and what is true of the rulers, was true in still greater degree of the people in general in all the states. Thus, the mercantile Jaina community wielded a great influence in the society; and their religion was naturally respected by the people. It is due to the influence of Jainism that the population of Rajasthan ruled by Rajputs remained vegetarian in larger majority than any other part of India.
CHAPTER VIII CONTRIBUTIONS OF JAINISM TO RAJASTHAN
In the foregoing chapters, an attempt has been made to describe the sole which Jainism has played in what is now known as the state of Rajasthan According to the traditions, Jainism has existed in this region since times immemorial, but from the eighth century onward, it has been a great cultural force. It has enriched the culture of this state by making remarkable contributions to its art and literature and has raised the standard of ethics and morality by its rational preachings.
The wonderful temples of Mt. Abu, the Dhāīdınakā Jhomparā of Ajmer and the Sārgāner Jaina temple are edifices of which any nation can be proud. The general plan, the artistic details, the lovely and delicate material of the Abu temples and the immense wealth lavished on them form the subject of several books or chapters written by recognized authorities on art. The Dhāīdınakā Jhomparā with its most artistically designed pillars, brackets, lintels and ceiling panels nivals any building of Fatehpur Sikri or earlier building of the Hindu period and shows how anxious the Jainas were to create artistic and attractive surroundings for the students so that they might