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Historical Role of Jainism in Malwa
• By Kailash Chand Jain Vikram University, UJJAIN.
The existence of Jainism in very early times in Malwa is based only on traditions, but the earliest substantial evidence is from the inscriptions of the fourth century A.D. found at Vidiśā. It made considerable progress during the early medieval period. Though ruling chiefs were followers of Brahmanical religion, they took interest even in the development of Jainism. They patronized Jaina scholars A large number of Jaina temples were built and images were placed in them. Some places became the seats of the Jaina Achāryas, and some became famous as holy places of pilgrimage. A large number of people were converted to Jainism, and they formed different castes.
• Jalniam During the Period of Mahāvira :
Mahāvira is known to have visited Ujjain where he did penances in a cemetery where Rudra and his wife tried in vain to interrupt bim.1 Jaina traditions ascribe that Pradyota was a follower of Jainism and tried for its propagation. He is said to have installed the Jivanta Swāmi (life time) images of Mahāvira at Ujjain, Dašapura and Vidiśā. His son Gopāla was initiated to Jainism by Ganadharà Sudharma Svāmi. All these facts are based on traditions, so that they cannot be relied upon. In later period, Jajnas forgot the birth place Vajśāli of Mahāvlra and confused it with Ujjain known as Viśālā. Therefore, they seem to have associated it with Mahāvira. It is also quite possible that in later times, when Jainism spread to Molwa, the Jainas, in order to impress the masses of this region, wanted to point out that their association with Jainism was not new but from the time of Mahāvira.
1.
The Heard of Jainism, p. 33.
2. Jaina Tirtha Sarva Samgraha, p. 322.
Mahavira Jayanti Smarika, 76
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