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Jain Education
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The Bhandaras which were established in Punjab, Rajaputana, Gujarat, Bihar and South India helped in promoting the educational field and the literary activities of the Jains. Scholars like Siddhasena, Silanka, Abhayadeva, Santisuri, Devendra and Malayagiri became distinguished as commentators and persons like Haribhadra. Hemachandra and Mallisena became famous in Grammar and Logic. The fields of Mythology, History, Pattavalis, Kathakosas and Prabandhas became enriched with numerous works. As already observed, the Jains learnt the local language for religious activities and wrote works in those local languages. Thus Tamil Literature in the beginning was also enriched by the Jain scholars.
All this indicates, that the Jains, though enjoyed the patronage of kings, both in North and in South India, they could not think of designing their own educational system. Their main activity was centered around the propagation of their religion. As they wanted to be nearer to the people always, they chose the local tongue to propagate their tenets and wrote works diffusing their tenets. As time passed on, the Hinduism and Buddhism which laid down their educational policies and established educational institutions, right from a Pathasala to a University, stood like Leviathan. Sanskrit, which became the medium of instruction, stood like Himalayan mountain against which neither Ardhamadgdhi nor Pali could successfully collide and make a mark.
REFERENCES
1.
Gosala is the founder of the Ajivika sect of Jainism.
S. Gopalan, Outlines of Jainism, Wiley Eastern Private Limited, New Delhi, 1973, P.15.
3. The four supreme commands of vow to be practiced according to Parsvanatha are (1) Not to injure life (Ahimsa), (2) Not to tell likes (sanrtam), (3) Not to steal (Asteya), and (4) Not to possess any property. (Aparigraha) Mahavira added celibacy as the fifth
4.
Uttaradhyayana sutra, Tr. by Jacobi, Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 45, Motilal Banarasidass, Delhi, 1884, Intro. P.21.
Dasgupta, A History of Indian Philosophy, vol.1, University Press, Cambridge, 1922, p.169.
6. Other traditions give 545 and 467 B.C. Mrs. Sinclair stevension, The Heart of Jainism, Mushiram Manohar Lal, New Delhi, 1970, P.8.
7. Jocobi, Sacred Books of the East XLV, p. 122.
For further details, see S.B. Deo, History of Jaina Monachism, from Inscriptions and Literature, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Poona, 1956, p.73.
According to Angultaranikaya the 16 Janapadas are-
1) Kasi, 2) Kosala, 3) Ariga, 4) Magadha, 5) Vaisali, 6) Malla, 7) Chedi, 8) Vatsa, 9) Kuru, 10) Pancala, 11) Matsya, 12) Surasena, 13) Assaka, 14) Avanti, 15) Gadhara, and 16) Kambuja.
According to Bhagavati Sutra, the 16 Janapadas are
1) Anga, 2) Vanga, 3) Magadha, 4) Malya, 5) Malva, 6) Achcha, 7) Yachacha, 8) Kochcha, 9) Pandya, 10) Ladh, 11) Rajii, 12) Meli, 13) Kasi, 14) Kosala, 15) Avala, and 16) Sambuttara.
10. E.I. Vol. XX, p.80, XX, p.60 II, Intro. P.41, II. Inscription 1; IA. Vol. III, pp. 153-58, XXI, p. 156; VI, pp. 24-27, XVIII, p. 309, XII, p. 11, XI, pp.247-51; JRAS, 1918, p.546; JBORI, XIII, p.245, III, p.452; JA Vol. V, No. 3, p. 81; VI, No. 1, pp.9 to 16 etc., JBBRAS X, p.220.
11. The 12 angas are
1) Acarangasutra, 2) Suyagadangasutra; 3) Sthanagagasutra; 4) Samavayangasutra; 5) Bhagavatri; 6) Jnatadharamakathanga; 7) Upasakadasanga; 8) Antagada Dasaga; 9) anuttarovavai Dasanga; 10) Prasna Vyakarana; 11) Vipakasutra; and 12) Drastivadanga.
12.
The fourteen Purvas are -
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