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Maharastra can boast of having four major Siddhakshetras (places from where Tirthankars or other saints have attained nirvana) at Gajapantha (District Nasik), Magitungi (District Khamdesh), Kunthalagiri (District Osmanabad) and Muktagiri (District Amraoti); a large number of caves and cave-temples, including the famous ones at Ellora (Dist Aurangabad), Ter (Dist Osmanabad), and Anjaneri (Dist Nasik); some of the great Jain saints and scholars such as
ntabhadra, Virasen, Jinasena and Somedeva, and the largest proportion of Jain population in India (about 30% of all Jains in 2001 Census).
North India For about a millennium, beginning perhaps in the 3rd century B.C.E., Mathura, the capital of Surasena rulers, remained the stronghold of Jainism. Ujjain was an important centre of Jainism in central India which was the capital of Maurya Emperor Samprati (Jaina Asoka), the grandson of Ashoka. Emperor Samprati was also responsible for spreading Jainism to Kashmir, and some other parts of East India.
With minor exceptions here and there Jainism was generally deprived of royal support during the first few centuries of Muslim rule in north India. As a part of his Din-e-Elahi policy Mughal Emperor Akbar was favourably inclined towards Jainism. He had banned animal slaughter during the Paryushan days in his empire in 1583 C.E. Initially Jahangir had revoked this policy, but again decreed the same in 1610 C.E. Emperor Shahjahan was also tolerant of Jainism and allowed a Jain temple to be built in front of the Red Fort mainly for the Jains in his administration as well as the other residents in the locality. The presence of the Lal Mandir (red stone Jain temple) in Chandni Chowk is an eloquent testimony to this. "Duri Mohammedan period, the Jainas particularly increased in the native states of Rajputana, where they came to occupy many important offices under the state as generals and ministers" (Sangave 2006: 122). In this context the name of Raja Bhamashah (1542-1598 C.E.), advisor of the Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap of Mewar, easily comes to one's mind. He had played a crucial role in numerous military exercises of Mewar against the mighty Mughal army, including the famous battle of Haldi Ghati.
6 | Jains in India and Abroad
