Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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part of the highly austere code of conduct for the monks and nuns (Sadhavis ), who could not travel except on foot. Yet Jainism spread to distant parts of India, judging from the discovery of ancient Jain temples in M.P., Gujarat, North India, Bihar, U.P., Orissa, Bengal and very notably South India. Jain religion reinforced its firm moorings in South India as early as the 3rd century BC, when under the leadership of Acharya Bhadrabahu, 12000 Jain monks traveled to south India when north India was struck with a severe 12 years duration famine during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 B.C.). Chandragupta also became a Jain monk who joined the southwards migrating group of Jain ascetics It is towards the end of the 19th century and with much greater momentum in the 20th century that Jain businessmen and professionals started settling down in community groups all over Africa and in recent times in U.S.A. and Canada, U.K. and other countries both in east and west. A large number of Jain temples have come up in these countries as Jains abroad continue to pursue their religion subscribing to its salient principles and rituals with devotion and dedication. Noteworthy examples of Jain templesinvariably composite ones with simultaneous worship facilities for different Jain sects are Siddhachalam-the first and only Teerth outside India in New Jersey (U.S.A.), temples in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many other cities in U.S.A., Edmonton, Toronto and elsewhere in Canada, Kathmandu in Nepal, Hongkong, Malaysia, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Kobe in Japan, Nairobi and Mombasa in Africa, Antwerp in Belgium and so on. What is more, slowly but significantly Jains have started taking active part in inter-faith cooperative endeavours both in India and abroad propagating the universal relevance of Jain philosophy and practices for bringing peace and succour to humanity tormented by increasing violence, lust of power, hatred, exploitation and discrimination. Carl Sagan, noted American spiritual scientist has recognized that it is only the Jain religion
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A Portrait of Jain Religion