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be either the island of Simhala or Ratnadvipa1. As it may be anyway, it is clear that the Jainas were aware of Lanka, Simhala and Ratnadvipa since a hoary antiquity. It is said that Ravana, the king of Lanka was a staunch Jain. He obtained a jewelled image of Tirthankara Shantinatha from Indra, which was thrown into sea at the downfall of Lanka3. la the historical period one king Shanker of Karanataka country traced it out of the depth of sea and installed it in his country. During the period of Tirthankara Parshva, the Vidyadhara kings namely Mali and Sumali brought another image of Jina from Lanka which was installed in a temple at Sirpur. King Karakandu of Champa also restored another image from Lanka at Terapura Caves in Deccan. He visited Lanka and married the princess of that country". Many a Jain merchant went to Lanka, Simhala and Ratnadvipa3. Thus Jainas had ancient contracts with Ceylon.
During the historical period, we know that the Jaina Missionaries reached Ceylon as early as the sixth century B.C. and they were successful in getting Jaina Centres established there-so much so that a few kings of Ceylon were converted to the Jaina faith. "It is said that the king Pandukabhaya, who ruled in the beginning of the second century after Buddha, from 367-307 B.C., built a temple and a monastry for two Niganthas (Jainas). The monastry is again mentioned in the account of the reign of a later king Vattagamini (38-10 B.C). It is related that Vattagamini being offended by the inhabitants caused it to be destoryed after it bad stood there for the reigns of 21 kings, and erected a Buddhist Sangharama in its place". Thus Jainism lost its stronghold in that island, but it could not be wiped off altogether, for we come across later instances in which Jain munis
1. Dey, Geographical Dictionary of Ancient India, P. 113. Jain Siddhanta Bhaskar Vol. XVI.
2,
pp. 91-98.
3. Paumacariu and Padmapurana.
4. See Karakandu-carriu (Karanja Series).
5. Harisena Kathakosha p. 192. Varangachari p. 66 etc.
6. Mahavansa, pp. 66-203 and the Indian-Sect of the Jainas, P. 37.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
