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The Jains and the Yādavas of Devagiri
Kamal Chavan
The Yādavas followed a policy of religious tolerance. They were themselves followers of orthodox Hinduism. However, they allowed religious freedom to the various communities of their kingdom. The Mahānubhāvas were the only exception. This policy of tolerance led to different sects and communities prospering under them. The Jainas were one of them. It is proposed to examine in this paper the position of this important community during the three centuries of Yādava's rule. This reexamination is based on literary sources and archaeological data newly available.
The Deccan College, Pune and the Marāthawāda University, Aurangabad have excavated at Daulatabad for the last five years or so. During these diggings a number of images of Tirthankaras came to light. A more important fragment was a part of a sikhara of the Bhumija type. Its craftsmanship and size leave no doubt that a very large Jaina temple existed here. Fragments of Jina images and sculptures are scattered over the Fort area. A rock-cut Jaina shrine with 24 niches for the 24 Tirthankaras has been excavated at the foot of the hill. The sculptures and the caves were known for a long time, but the fragments of a large temple of the Svetāmbara sect has led me to investigate further the Jaina connection. The story unfolded by literature and archaeology is the story of stiff competition between the Svetāmbara and Digambara sect and the gradual supremacy of the former over the later.
The early Yādavas seem to have hailed from Karnātaka and their culture and activities show an orientation in that direction. In the later period, influences from the North became predominant. In the early medieval period, the Digambara sect was popular and powerful in Karnātaka. The adherents of this sect were drawn from all walks of life. The Yādavas show influence of this sect according to legend, the founder of the Yādava dynasty, Dridhaprahāra was brought up in a Jaina monastery at Chandrādityapura. This legend is to be found in the Vividhatīrthakalpa of Jinaprabhasūri. Chandrādityapura was a well known market place on the road.between Nasik and Khandesh. There was a temple built for the eighth Tirthankara
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