Jinamanjari 1995 09 No 12

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 50

century B.C.) if not earlier. The village Vaddamanu and its excavations have revealed that Jain religion had made a deep impact among messes in the Krishna region of southeastern India.
In the light of excavations at Vaddamanu, it has to be decided whether there are any other Jain centres along the Krishna and Godavary rivers that cut across the southeastern region of peninsular India. The linguistic and etymological analysis of some of the names of places besides Mahavira, indicate the association of other Tirthankaras as well. Anantapur and Dharmavaram are very important in Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh and these suggest the names of Anantanatha (14th) Dharmanatha (15th) Tirthankaras: On exploring the region, it was found that there were ancient Jain temples at Kambadur and Konakondla near Anantapur,? Amarapuram and Togarukunta near Dharmavaram. These places are located away from Mosali, in the south of river Krishna. Although, there are temples belonging to 9th and 10th centuries A.D., it could be inferred that names of towns were adopted after the names of the respective Tirthankaras.
It is known that neither Buddhism nor Jainism had emerged form in this region, but the above evidences, inferred from archaeological investigations clearly indicate Jain activities. Evidently the Jaina religious activities that orginated in the borders of Nepal and Bihar had influenced the far off peninsular India. It can be attributed to the missioneries that had exploited the trade links for spreading the gospels of their Master. Although not much is known about the origin and the antiquity of Jain movements, it has to be stated that they became more assertive from the time of Mahavira, who formulated the ideals of dharma, the procedural code for spiritual growth in the Path of Purification.
Travels of Mahavira
The Bhagavati sutral and the Kalpasutra" provide details of the early ascetic life of Mahavira. Although they differ in some, hoth have a general theme. According to these sources, Mahavira spent twelve rainy seasons at different places. In the first year of his renunciation, he
48