Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs

Author(s): P B Desai
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

Page 18

JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA
next few centuries. It developed a large number of strongholds all over the Tamil Districts, which flourished for a considerably long period. The region of Kanchi; tracts nearabout Panchapāņdavamalai, Tirumalai and Vallimalai hills; the areas in the vicinity of Ponnür, Chittāmür, Pudukkottai and Madurā; Kalugumalai in the Tinnevelly District; and Tiruchchāṇattumalai in the Travancore territory: these were some of the thriving centres of Jaina religion and culture. It is surprising to note that inscriptions of the Tamil country contain no reference to the Drāvida Samgha which is said to have been founded at Madurā by Vajranandi.
Jainism suffered a temporary set-back in the Tamil land about the 7th century. Notwithstanding the formidable opposition from Saivism which gained ascendancy at this period, it maintained its position, almost status quo, until the 12th century. Amongst the Jaina preceptors of exemplary zeal who lifted the sinking faith from the depth of distress, the name of Ajjanandi stands out supreme. The leaders of the Jaina Church in the Tamil country adapted themselves to the environments and succeeded in popularising their faith through attractive devices. By raising the status of subsidiary deities like the Yaksha and Yakshiņi and enlarging the sphere of ceremonial details, they held the masses within their fold. The deep imprint left by Jainism on the Tamil culture is instanced by the survival of the interesting expression paļļi in the Tamil speech, which originated in Jaina associations and invariably stood for a Jaina religious establishment. Jainism penetrated so thoroughly into the social order of the Tamilians that in spite of the adverse tide of orthodox creeds that swept the land during the later period, many Jaina deities survived. They retained their positions and continued to be worshipped under different guises.
In the course of these discussions corroboration has been sought through iconographic evidence whose value has been fully assessed. A noteworthy feature of this treatment is that a good many sculptures whose recognition was not attempted by earlier writers, have been properly indentified.
Among the cultural activities largely influenced by Jainism in the Tamil country, literature plays a conspicuous rôle. The study of the faith in this area is concluded with a survey of the Jaina works in the Tamil literature with special reference to the Silappdikīram which was richly nurtured in Jaina environment.
The contacts of Karnataka with Jainism were far more intimate and pervasive. From Bidar in the north down to Mysore in the south, the whole area is replete with Jaina antiquities. Karnāțaka was the favourite resort of Jainism for nearly one thousand years: Jainism enjoyed the privilege of
1 The belief prevalent among the scbolars that Jainism lost its hold throughout the Tamil country with the upsurge of saivism in the 7th century is not justified by historical facts; contrast K. K. Handiqui Yaśastilaka and Indian Culture, pp. 497-98.