________________
which were completed in 5th century AD by important Muslim shrines and tombs (Qutab Minar, Devärdhagani.
Ajmer Dargah Shariff etc just few examples) still During 4th-6th centuries AD, Gupta dynasties
show existence of Jain temples there. However
Emperor Akbar and his son Jahangir were ruled most of north Indian states. All three religions i.e. Vaioaòava (mixed breed of Vedic and Jains),
sympathetic towards Jains and Hindu religions. Jain Jains and Buddhist religions prospered with royal
poets and philosophers like Banrasi Dass, Rajmal families generally practicing Vai'aòava religion. This
Pandey and Hindus like Tulsi Das and Surdas
flourished during their regime. It is said that is the time during which temple and idols, famous art centers like Devgarh, Mathura of Jains were built
Digambar munis in the beginning were asked to and created as well as a number of Jain temples
wear clothes to go to royal courts for discussions renovated. Jain ascetics used to wander freely from
and delivering sermons. We also see emergence Bengal to Punjab. Pujyapâda, Devärdhagani,
of Sthânakavâsi sect in later part of this period in Haribhadra are important Jain pontiffs of this period
Gujarat. Similarly we see emergence of a number
of householders like Todar Mal, SadaSukh Lal, with Jain cult strongly bifurcated in two with further divisions in each sect also. Gopâcala in Gwalior
Bhudhar dass, Dhyanat Rai, and Daulat Ram wrote and a number of places like Draunagiri, Ahâra,
a number of devotional songs, poojas and treatise Kundalpura, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesa saw
on Jain canons. We also see sudden emergence of Jain centers and Jain temples in
disappearance of Jain monks, especially large numbers. It appears Bundelkhand became
Digambaras. Emperors like Aurangazeb were active Jain areas with royal patronage extended.
extremely harsh on Jains and Hindus and destroyed
a number of shrines and temples and force In southern India, dynasties like Kadamba,
converted them to Islam. Câlukya, Colâs, Hoyesalas, Ganga and Ràograkuta etc. Karnataka, due to the arrival of BhadraBâhu
All through this period, Rajasthan was a little at Úravaòabelgola during 3rd century BC became
different and not so affected by Muslim rule.
Therefore Jainism kept on flourishing there and we the centre of Jain philosophy. In Tamil Nadu we find
see large-scale construction of temples, monks and dynastie like Pandya Cola and Pallavas who were
writing of literature there. Bhamashah, defense and very favourably inclined to Jainsim. They made
prime minister of Rana Pratap was a respected Madurai (called Mathura of the south) as the Jain
Jain and he was so respected that his many center. Kunda Kunda, Samantabahdra,
generations got royal patronage. They built a Nemicandra and other famous Jainācāryas hail
number of temples in Udaipur and western from southern India. Magnificent idols like
Rajasthan. Gomaggeúwara at Úravadabelgola and other places were erected in Karnataka. Area adjoining
During the period 16th to 18th centuries, there Mâhârâ°gra and Karnataka even today has the was so much turmoil, that the question of religion largest Jain community and temples. In fact and culture is inconsequential. Indiscipline, unruly Kannada and Mâhârâ°gri became the languages people, violence, infighting were the order of the of Jain canons during this period. We see time. However areas like Bundelkhand, Rajasthan emergence of a number of Jain logicians like Gujarat, Agra and to some extent Delhi in the north, Akalanka, Manikya Nandi, Hemcandra and
Kanataka and adjacent Mâhârâ°gra and Gujarat in Yasovijayji writing a number of important Jain texts
south and west continued to see Jainism exist and during this period.
to some extent prosper. From 17th century onwards invasions and rule iv. 1700AD-Now by Muslim kings saw large-scale destruction of Jain India had rulers from England who plundered and Hindu temples primarily. Remains near the wealth of India first and then ruled the country.
(સપ્ટેમ્બર - ૨૦૧૭
yos sa
