Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 212

Historical Role of Jainism
201 be an imaginary name, actually speaking, there was no such ruler whose kingdom extended to and comprised southern India during this period.
Further, there are literary tradition recorded in the Haribhadriya vritti, which states that Mahavira himself preached his doctrine2 in the region of Kalinga, which comprised the Northern frontiers of the Andhra country.8 As these traditions are of later period, they cannot be relied
upon.
K. P. Jayswal infers from the fourteenth line of the Hatiguṁpha inscription of Khārvela, that Mahavira actually preached his dharma from Kumari Hill (Udayagiri) in Kalinga.4 The latest archaeological discoveries also tend to support the evidence of Jaina literature which takes back the advent of Jainism into Andhra Desa to the Pre-Mauryan period.
3. JAINISM DURING THE NANDA PERIOD (Cir. 400 B. C.)
The Nanda's ruled over Magadha in about the fourth century B. C. onwards. From the Hatigumpha inscription of Khārvela, it is known that Kharvela brought back from Magadha the image of Adi Jaina of Kalinga which the Nanda King, evidently, Mahapadmananda had carried away as a trophy." This reveals that Jainism was prevelant in Kalinga when it was attacked by the Nanda ruler of Magadha.
Regarding Adi Jaina, it is difficult to identify with any Tirthankara whether it is either Rṣabha or Pārsvanatha or Mahāvira.
4. JAINISM DURING THE MAURYAS (Cir. 321-184. B. C.)
The Mauryas ruled from Cir. 321 B. C. to 184 B. C. and this Andhra region was the part of their empire. Aśokan inscriptions have been discovered at some places in Andhra Pradesh.
It is also known that Chandragupta Maurya, grandfather of Aśoka, during the last years of his reign, returned to Śrāvaṇabelagola in the company of his preceptor Bhadrabāhu.6 This also leads to believe that Jainas might have also migrated to Andhra Pradesh during his period. Samprati, the grandson of Ašoka, was a great patron of Jainism." Sehastin
1. Karnataka through the Ages. Published by the Agamedaya Samiti. pp. 218-220.
EI, Vol. XX, p. 88 and n. 11.
P. B. Desai; Jainism in South India, p. 3.
2.
3.
4.
5. EI, XX, p. 72 ff.
6.
7.
JBORS, XIII, p. 245.
The Cambridge History of India, 1, p. 147.
J. P. Jain; The Jaina Sources of the History of Ancient India, p. 105.
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