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Gosarman, who was the ornament of the image of Acharya Bhadra. This inscri ption was found inside the cave which may have been a Jaina temple during the Gupta period. It seems that the region round about Vidiśa was a stronghold of Jainism. It is believed that the great Jaina philosopher Siddhasena Divakara lived at Ujjain.
Early Medieval Period 701-1305 A.D.
Jainism made considerable progress in Malwa by the efforts of Jaina monks. Bhaddalapure, Ujjain, Baran and Gwalior remained the seets of the Bhattarakas of the Malasagha.2 From Ujjain, Sarasvatigachchha and Balatkāra. gana orignated and they were mentioned along with Mülasamhgha,3 Besides, Vāgada Samgha (named after region now known as Banswara and Dungarpur) and Mathura Samgha remained popular in this region. It is known that various Gachchhas origi nated in the north with disciples of Uddyotanasuri, who remained attached with this area because he died in about 937 A.D. On a pilgrimage which he had under. taken from Malavadeśa to Satrunjaya to worship Rishabha. 3 Simhanandi is known as the Bhattarak of Malwa, Devasena wrote the Darśanasara in v.s. 990 (933) A.D.) in the Jaina temple of Parsvanatha at Dhara,
The Paramara rulers though followers of Brahmanical religion extended. patronage to Jainism. The Jaina Acharyas Amitagati, Mahaśena, Dhanapāla, Dhanesvara and others were patronized by Vak pati Muñja. The famous Paramāra ruler Bhoja gave encouragement to Prabhachandra, Dhanapals, Devabhadra, Suracharya and others. Säntisena defeated the learned scholars in his court. Dhanapala is the author of Tilakamañjari Jineśvarasuri and Budhisagara of Dharanagari lived during his time. A colossal Jaina image of a Jaina Tirthankara at Bhojapura is of the time of Bhojadeva. Jainism prospered also during the reign of Naravarma. Samundravijaya was one of the famous figures of the court of Naravarman. Naravarman invited Jinavallabhasüri to listen to his religious. discourses so pleased was he with his scholarship that he granted two Paruttha drammas daily from the custom house of Chitor for the maintenance of its two Kharatara temples.10 Jinavallabha's successor Jinadattasüri himself visited. Ujjain, Dhara and Vägada 11 Jaina temples at Un as known from their inscriptions.
1. PR. 883-84, IA,XX,IA. XXI p. 58. 3. The Age of Imperial Kanaj, p. 205.
5. Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts in C.P. and Berar, p. 652.
6. PR, No. 4, Intro, p. 3.
7.
JSAI, p. 274. 8. EL. XXXV. 2. KB., p. 13.
9. Bharat 1955, p. 122.
Mahavira Jayanti Smarika, 76
2. JSAI. p. 391.
4.
JSAI, p. 371.
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3. Ibid.
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