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CHAPTER VII.
CRITICAL TIMES
Importance of the 8th and 9th centuries in Jaina history—The identity of the Ajīvikas with the Jainas disprovedStages in the spread of Jainism I. The age of Samantabhadra-II. Akalanka-III. Vajranandi—The establishment of the Drāvida Sangha-Other gurus who spread Jainism-Kanakanadi & Gunaseña--Eļācārya - Jaina centres in the Tamil land and Travancore, the Andhradeśa and Karnātaka from the early times till the rise of Vijayanagara-Contribution of Jainism to the history and culture of the Tamil land, the Andhradeśa and Karnāṭaka—Literature --Grammar -- Mathematics -- Astrology — Medicine-Arts and Architecture Contribution to the culture of India the four gifts-Ahimsatoleration General causes of the decline of Jainism in the Tamil and Telugu lands and Karnāțaka- The work of the Saiva and Vaisnava saints in the Tamil land.
THE eighth and ninth centuries of the Christian era were
ages of Jaina diffusion in the south. But this expan
sion brought it into conflict with certain forces which proved detrimental to its life not only in the new kingdoms over which it spread, but also in the land of its domicile where undoubtedly it had moulded the destinies of the people for centuries. In the previous pages we saw the history of
