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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
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Tuluva country, and Mudabidri happened to be its last stronghold in the upper Western Coast of South India in the late medieval period. Then P.Gururaj Bhatt gave a better picture of this fact in this region.30 On the strength of some inscriptions and antiquities found in the Kerala region, some scholars have postulated that the 9th to 11th Cent.A.D. constituted a glorious period of Jainism in the Kerala region." But we do not have so far a good picture of Jainism that flourished in this region. It is learnt that the Bhāratiya Jñānapitha entrusted P.Gururaj Buatt to conduct this kind of study. But unfortunately he expired suddenly and I have no idea of what were the fruits of his study and who has resumed his work.
(4) Jaina Teachers and Social Uplift in South India: Much of the work done in South Indian Jainism is regarding its religious and political aspects in the main. Now we can take-up its social aspect and treat it thoroughly. The Jaina teachers' sermons, and the stories, illustrations etc. in them, were the most effective media of social education in the carly and medieval periods.” The Jaina teachers always struggled to eradicate the seven vices (sapta-vyasanas) from the masses and cultivate among them social virtues like compassion, truth, honesty, charity etc. Moreover the remarkable adaptability of Jainism to the contemporary social trends and local environments (keeping its basic tenets intact) can also be highlighted here. Keeping these and such other things in view, a social historian can take up this work for the full growth of the knowledge of South Indian Jainism.
(5) Contribution of Jainism to the Cultural Heritage of South India: This is one of the most important desiderations, which can also partly include the one noted just above. The tolerant attitude, accommodative nature, vegetarianism etc. available among the people of this part of the country, can be reasoned to owe much to the cultural impact of Jainism that gloriously flourished here. Tradition, political history, literature and above all the inscriptional wealth of this area, can be of great use in
this task. S.Vaiyapuri Pillai observed “So far as Tamil Nādu is Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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