The Jain 1998 07

Author(s): Amrit Godhia, Pradip Mehta, Pravin Mehta
Publisher: UK Jain Samaj Europe

Page 61

10th anniversary praishtha mahotsawa
Jainism unpopular and in time it ended in strongholds of Jainism, mainly in its Digambar variant. violence and religious persecution through Jain literature claims that Neminatha was in the south force by the over-zealous state officials who when Krishna's city of Dwaraka was burnt. Legend says were ready to execute the commands of that a saintly ascetic, who had been repeatedly harassed the bigoted kings.
by some drunken members of the royal household, had With the rise of Saivism, an abundance of
put a curse on the city and it may be that the drunken
behaviour of those inhabitants of Dwaraka precipitated religious literature on Shiva, his miracles and
the fire. powers, was written, and was edited in the twelfth century by Sekkizhar as Tirutondar Puranam or
Many south Indian dynasties such as Calukyas, Periapuranam (Ayyangar 1922: p. 61). Among the 63 Gangas, Rastrakutas, Kadambas, Pandyas, Cholas, Saiva Nayanars or saints whose accounts fill this text, Kalcuri, Amoghvarsha, Vijaynagar and other dynasties Appar, Siruttondar and Sambandar furnish some patronised Jainism. The Rastrakuta period is looked information on the Jains. Of these three, Sambandar, upon as a 'golden era' of Jain literary activity, technical who was a popular activist, shrewd orator and singer and religious literature, and of Jain art and architecture saint, rendered Jainism a mortal blow in the Pandya in the south. By the 14th century CE, Jainism declined kingdom, from the effects of which it never recovered. both numerically and culturally when royal patronage Appar did the same for the Pallava kingdom, and his was withdrawn, due to new rulers who followed Saivism account states that the fiery preaching of Saint and Lingayatism. But despite these setbacks and Samandar and the Vaisnava saints, Tirumazhisaipiran persecution, some pockets of Jainism survived. and Tirumangai Alvar, led to the decline of Jainism in
Under the Raj, British rule did not actively help Tamil Nadu in the eighth century CE. The Chola kings
to promote Jainism, though indirectly it did through who followed Siva did not patronise Jainism during this period. From the Periapuranam it is evident that 8,000
an increasing liberal education and freedom of religion, Jain leaders were impaled at the suggestion of
but the struggle for independence from Britain, in which
Mahatma Gandhi so publicly embraced non-violence Samandar and that there was violent religious persecution in the Pallava and Pandya kingdoms. As a
(ahimsaa), led to a new dissemination of Jain values. result, not only were many Jains driven out of these
In independent secular India, Jainism has revived kingdoms, but also many were forced to embrace and Jain values have been given an important place in Saivism. The evolution of Hinduism owes a debt to the the life of the nation, and Jainism has been accepted Saiva Nayanars, Vaisnava Alvars, and Sankaracharya as one of the major religions of India. Under the (8th century CE) who turned his attention to the north patronage of the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, India after witnessing the ruin of Jainism in the south. celebrated the 2,500th anniversary of Mahavira in Jain saints, especially Ajjanandi, travelled
1975. People from all walks of life participated in the through Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to
head-anointing ceremony of the colossal statue of counteract the hostile propaganda of the Saivites and
Bahubali at Sravanabelgola, and many tourists visit Jain Vaisnavites, but it was a losing battle. The Jains due to
temples such as Delwara, Ranakpur and Satrunjay. their persecution, and the fear of persecution, migrated Some places of pilgrimage have been restored to their to Sravanbelgola in the Ganga Kingdom, a few
former glory and many new temples are being built remained in Tamil Nadu, but without any influence. throughout India. Jain literature is being made Nevertheless they continued their literary activities and accessible to all through translations into English and produced classic works such as Kural Sillappadikaram, the Indian languages. Chintamani, Nannul and many books on grammar,
In November 1996, the Prime Minister of the lexicography and astronomy. The contribution of the
United Kingdom, John Major, Jain heritage to the Tamil culture is unique and
visited the Jain Centre in Leicester. considerable, and can be seen in the observance of
These and establishment of Jain ahimsaa in the Vedic rites and ceremonies, surviving
Centres in North America are temples and their institutions, and the literature. By the end of the thirteenth century CE, with the exception
leading to a greater awareness of
Jainism outside India. Thus, Jainism of Karnataka and few pockets in Tamil Nadu, where Jains had to face very stiff opposition, Jainism had
is beginning to establish an
international dimension, but practically disappeared from south India.
without the active patronage of Thus for more than 1,500 years after the age of rulers in this modern and secular Mahavira, parts of southern India proved to be age.
RS
People are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them.
- Epictetus
CE
Jain Education Intemational 2010_03
Formate59ersonal use only