Religion and Culture of the Jains

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

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RELIGION & CULTURE OF THE JAINS
Arts of caligraphy, miniature painting and music were also developed by the Jainas and a number of big libraries were maintained in different places where manuscripts of new and old works were prepared and copied on a large scale. Some Jaina laymen also found favour with the rulers and occupied important positions in the government, particularly under the Khaljis, Tughluqs and Lodies and the Sultānas of Gujarat and Malwa.
In the then Rajput kingdoms of Rajasthan (Rājapūtānā), Gwalior and Chandwar near Agra, the position of the Jainas was much better and they follwed their religion without let or hindrance, enjoying, if not active patronage at least a wholesome tolerance of the rulers. And, in the south, Jainism made no small contribution to the success and greatness of the Vijayanagar empire (1336-1565 A.D.) which is considered to have been the most magnificent product of mediaeval Hindu statesmanship. About the time of the foundations of this kingdom, Jainism stood baffled but not beaten. During the preceding two centuries or so it had been steadily driven from the premier place it had occupied in the Tamil, Telagu and Karnātaka countries and was ultimately compelled to occupy a secondary position. In many ways it was a critical, even perilous, time for this religion. Happily, however, the Vijayanagar monarchs, although they did not profess Jainism, stepped forth as its protectors and enabled it to continue its useful existence. Jainism, on its part, gave to the realm not only rich bankers, traders and merchants, but brave and renowned generals and warriors, astute ministers and statesman, artist and scholars and several fourishing cultural centres. A considerable number of feudatory chiefs also were followers of Jainism, and not a few of them continued to adhere to it even after the disintegration of that empire.
Among Muslim rulers of India, the great Mughals were by far the most tolerant, and their religious policy, as initiated