Jains in India and Abroad

Author(s): Prakash C Jain
Publisher: International Summer School for Jain Studies

Page 33

Jains' contribution to Indian arts and architecture is no less significant. Their contribution in these fields covers various architectural forms such as temples, cave temples, temple cities, pillars (manasthambhas) and towers, sculptures, and a wide variety of paintings, frescoes, and manuscript-illustrations (See Chandra 1949; Nagar 2000). Building temples has been a matter of utmost pride for the Jains. Dilwara Jain temples at Mt. Abu, Ranakpur Jain temples, temples at Khajuraho, ancient cave-temples of Udaigiri and Khandgiri, cave-temples of Ellora, temple cities of Shatrunjaya (Gujarat), Girnar (Gujarat), Sammedshikhar (Bihar), Sonagiri (M.P.), Mudhabidri (Karnataka), the Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), the Kirti-Sthambha at Chittor are some of the best examples of the Jain architecture (See Singhvi and Chopra 2002). Most of these monuments, particularly the temples, had been funded by single wealthy individuals. As temple construction is considered a meritorious act, scores of temples are being built annually by the Jains all over India, in spite of the fact that their heritage monuments are being neglected in the absence of proper funds and management. Needless to say, the Jain heritage, both physical and socio-cultural needs to be appreciated and preserved.
A majority of Jains have always enjoyed relative economic affluence and a high social status due to the fact that they have been traders, merchants, or bankers. A nineteenth century observer went to the extent of claiming that "half the mercantile transactions of India pass through their hands" (Thornton 1898: 40). Be that as it may, the Jains continue to make their mighty contribution to the Indian economy even though the Indian economy itself has undergone a sea-change. The Jains have taken the full advantage of modern education system and a significant number of them have entered into a wide variety of professions and services, besides consolidating their position as trading and commercial petty bourgeoisie in the Indian economy. Additionally, the Jains hold quite a substantial amount of ownership in real estate, share-market and mass media and publishing industries. Rajasthan Patrika Group, Lokmat Group (Maharashtra), Gujarat Samachar, The Times of India Group and Mathribhumi Group (Kerala) are the outstanding examples of mass media ownership by the Jains.
19 Jains in India and Abroad