Religion and Culture of the Jains

Author(s): Jyoti Prasad Jain
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 45

HISTORY OF JAINISM AFTER MAHĀVĪRA
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chief are said to have come under the influence of Jaina gurus. The emperor Harșa (606-647 A.D.), king of Kannauj, and the latter's successor, Ama, owned the Jaina monk Bappabhatti as his guru.
The imperial Gurjara Pratīhāras of Kannauj, during their ascendancy in the 9th and 10th centuries, as well as many of their feudatories, like the Candellas of Khajurāho, were generally tolerant towards Jainism, while the Chāvāļā kings of Gujarat were admittedly of Jaina persuasion.
In the Deccan the religion was much more fortunate. The imperial Rāştrakūtas of Mānyakheța, who dominated the entire Deccan and parts of central and western India and of the far south from about the middle of the 8th to about the close of the 10th century, were not only very tolerant towards Jainism but occasionally gave it active support. Rulers like Amoghavarşa I (815-877 A.D.) and several of his successors, as well as a large number of their feudatories adhered to this religion. It had not serious rival and was basking in the sunshine of popular and royal support, about one-third of the entire population of the Deccan following the gospel of Mahāvīra during that period.
Great Jaina centres of learning, headed by eminent saint-scholars were flourishing in different parts of the empire, and the Jainas seem to have taken a leading part in the education of the masses. It was then a progressive and popular religion which received patronage from all ranks of the people and, therefore, adapted itself to political exigencies and took active part in rejuvenating life in the country, wherever and whenever it was called upon to do so. Its leaders reciprocated the trust reposed in them by the princes and the people, by making valuable contributions to philosophy, literature and art, to the uplifting of society and the building up of national character, and to the stability and success of many a kingdom.