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Jain contributions to Indian culture
March 1, 2007 |
While the Jains are only 0.4% of the Indian population, their contributions to culture and society in India are considerable. Jainism has influenced Gujarat most significantly. The earliest known Gujarati text, Bharat-Bahubali Ras, was written by a Jain monk. Some of the most important people in Gujarat’s Jain history were Acharya Hemachandra Suri and his pupil, the Chalukya ruler Kumarpal.
Jains are both among the wealthiest of Indians and the most philanthropic. They run numerous schools, colleges and hospitals and are some of the most important patrons of the Somapuras, the traditional temple architects in Gujarat. Though Jainism is slowly declining in India, it is rapidly expanding in the West as non-Indians convert to the religion.
Jains have greatly influenced Gujarati cuisine. Gujarat is predominantly vegetarian, and its food has a mild aroma as onions and garlic are omitted.
Jains encourage their monks to do research and obtain higher education. Jain monks and nuns, particularly in Rajasthan, have published numerous research monographs. This is unique among Indian religious groups and parallels Christian clergy.
The 2001 census states Jains are India’s most literate community and India’s oldest libraries at Patan and Jaisalmer are preserved by Jain institutions.
[edit] Literature
Jains have contributed to India’s classical and popular literature. In Kannada, almost the entire early literature is of Jain origin.
* Some of the oldest known books in Hindi and Gujarati were written by Jain scholars.
* Several Tamil classics are written by Jains or with Jain beliefs and values as the core subject.
* Practically all the known texts in the Apabhramsha language are Jain works.
Comments
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i am research student(tamilnadu). your web site is very useful.
i have given a summery of my village which once was a jain centre.many jain monks and nuns visit this place frequently.
if u know anything more about this place please mail to me
The Chitharal Jain Monuments are located in a small village situated at a distance of 7 km from Marthandam and 55 km from Kanyakumari. Chitharal is historically known as Thirucharanathupalli – the abode of Jain monks belonging to Digambara sect.It is famous for the hillock which has a cave containing rock-cut sculptures of Thirthankaras and attendant deities carved inside and outside dating back to the 9th century A.D. Jain influence in this region was due to the Jain King Mahendra Verman-I (610-640 AD
The most impressive one, amongst the rock-shelters, is the Tiruchcharanattumalai, near Chitral district Kanyakumari. One the side of natural cavern formed by an over hanging rock are sculptured a number of Tirthankara figures apart from some inscribed votive images carved the visitors hailing from distant places. Of these relief’s, the most important are Parsvanatha, Mahavira, Padmavati and. An important inscription here, is the one belonging to the Ay king Vikramaditya Varaguna,