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Renunciation and Pilgrimage in Jainism Perspectives from the Deccan
28
Aloka PARASHER-SEN
"Tirthayatra brings an end to a number of beginnings, success in money, devotion of sangha, fortune for good people, renovation of old chaityas, development of tirthas. It helps in following the sayings of tirthankaras in correct way, bringing moksha closer and gaining higher status of human and god" (Jnanavijayaji, Upadeshtarangini 1938: 25)1
Introduction
This quotation succinctly expresses the purpose of pilgrimage for devout Jainas but it also simultaneously suggests that this would bring them closer to mokṣa or spiritual liberation. It befittingly encapsulates for us the purpose of this paper, namely, to reconcile the two main pillars on which Jainism as a religion grew in India and entrenched itself in particular localities. Contrary to contemporary perceptions that Jainism seems confined largely to Western India during the early years of its spread and prosperity, Jainism also had a considerable following in the Deccan and South India. There are several views put forth on how Jainism spread into these parts. The origin of Jainism in the Deccan according to one opinion goes back to the days of the lifetime of Vardhamana Mahāvīra himself. Generally it is accepted that Jainism began to flourish during early historic times. Textual evidence in the form of legends and the recording of oral memory inform us that this began around the 3rd century B.C. when Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta (the Mauryan emperor who had abdicated his throne to become a Jaina) traveled to Sravana Belgola along with several thousand Jaina followers.3 Though details of this early period are still shrouded in uncertainties what
This is a slightly revised version of a paper entitled: 'Renunciation And Pilgrimage In The Jaina Tradition - Continuity And Change In The Deccan' Journal of Deccan Studies, Special Issue on Jainism, vol. V, No. 1, January-June 2007, pp. 157-176. I am grateful to the Chairman of the Editorial Board and the Editors of the Journal for granting me permission to reprint this article in its present form.
1 Quoted in Viraj Shah, 'Medieval Jaina Pilgrimage Centres In Maharashtra', Journal of Deccan Studies, Special Issue on Jainism, (Guest Editor: Aloka Parasher-Sen) vol. V, No. 1, January-June 2007, p. 140. 2T.V.G. Sastry, 'Early History of Jainism', Arhat Vacana, vol. 1, no. 3-4, June-September, 1989, pp. 3839.
'R.C. Majumdar, (ed.) The Age of Imperial Unity, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, 1968 4* edition, p. 16; 408; 419.
