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Vol. XXII, No.-3
119
Jaina Churcb in the Tamil land. It is revealed by inscriptions that in course of time the Jaina monks organised monastic orders and developed a large oumber of strongholds for spreading their doctripes all over the area. They popularised their faith among the masses by introducing new devices such as the ceremonial worship of the secondary deities like यक्ष and यक्षिणी.
From pumerous references in inscriptions to the teachers and lay followers of the fair sex, we come to know that Jainism claimed a considerable quantity of womaofolk in its fold. Conspicuous among the monastic orders of the Tamil church are fFUTTS (feminine of Sanskrit Guru) or ordained lady teachers who appear to have enjoyed greater measure of freedom here than in other parts.
Jainism wielded influence to the farthest limits of peninsular India and we may note with interest that this faith was entrenched in the cornerland of Kerala. Worthy of mention as Jaina centres in the southern part of this region are Tiruchchanattumalai and Nagarkoyil which have treasured Jaina vestiges to the present day. The former name which in its full form 'Tiruchcharanattumalai' means 'the sacred hill of the aos', is reminiscent of the Jaina tradition relating to the arcos who were Jaina monks indowed with supernatural powers. This place possesses prominetly carved on its rock a figure of अम्बिका, the यक्षिणी of नेमिनाथ तीर्थङ्कर, who is mentioned as भटारि i.e. goddes, in an inscription found near the spot.
We now pass on to Fafea where there is profusion of Jaina monuments and epigraphs. It is generally believed that the land south of the Vindhyas was monopolised by the Digambara order of the Jainas. But epigraphy shows that the followers of the raatae school also existed here side by side with the Digambaras from the early times, though not predominantly. By way of illustration one piece of epigrapic evidence may be cited in support of this view.
A copper plate charter of the Kadamba king of anna? of about the 5th century announces the grant of a village in favour of the Jaina gods and the Jaina recluses. Among the latter, distinction is made between the great congregation of monks with white robes, i.e. the areas, and the great congregation of the far ascetics, i.e. Digambaras.
The Jaina scholars made substantial contributions to Sanskrit and some of their contributions are in the form of epigraphs. From the literary as well as historical point the Aihole areas of the 19 king gufu II is a rare piece of Sanskrit composition in an ornate style inscribed on stone and its author and Jaina poet fortfa is entit
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