Jainism in Maharashtra

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Marathi Jain
Marathi Jain
Indra Sabha, Ellora Caves
Regions with significant populations
 India
Maharashtra
Languages
Marathi
Religion
Jainism
Part of a series on
Jainism
Philosophy
Ethics
Ethics of Jainism
Mahavratas (major vows)
Anuvratas (further vows)
Jain prayers
Major figures
Major sects
Schools and Branches
Jain literature
Festivals
Pilgrimages
Tirth
Other

Jainism has been present in Maharashtra since ancient times. The famous Ellora Caves demonstrate that Jainism was part of a thriving religious culture in Maharashtra in premodern times.

History

981 A.D. Marathi inscription at the foot of Bahubali statue at Jain temple in Shravanabelagola is one of the earliest known Marathi inscription found. It was derived from Jain-Prakrit language.

Jainism in Maharashtra has a long history. The oldest inscription in Maharashtra is a 2nd-century BC Jain inscription in a cave near Pale village in the

Navkar Mantra
. The first Marathi inscription known is at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka near the left foot of the statue of Bahubali, dated 981 CE.

Jain temples or their remains are found in them. Texts such as the Shankardigvijaya and Shivlilamruta suggest that a large number of Marathi people
followed jainism in the ancient period.

Jain communities in present day Maharashtra

Office of the Hindi Granth Karyalay, Mumbai, publishers of books on Jainism
Kumbhoj Jain temple

There are many native jain communities in present day Maharashtra. The communities tend to be endogamous, and generally do not intermarry with the Jains who have arrived from

Digambar
sect. The four largest communities by numbers are:

  • Saitwal, originally Tailors and Cloth Merchants
  • Chaturtha, originally agriculturists, now engaged in various professions
  • Panchama, various professions[citation needed]
  • Kasar, traditionally coppersmiths

Each of the above communities are affiliated to their own Matha and led by the Matha leader called Bhattaraka. In addition to the above four, there are several smaller native Maharashtrian Jain communities.

  • Upajjhaya
  • Kamboja[1][2]
  • Harada
  • Jabade, Jain community in Maharashtra
  • Dhakad
    A small Jain community found primarily in Western Vidarbha districts of Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Amravati.

Religious organizations

Main article: Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha

The

Kannada Jains
).

Main article: Jainism in Mumbai

Jain Tirthas and Temples

Painting inside Indra Sabha cave at Ellora Caves
Cave temple
Main temple

Shri Kalikund Parshwanatha Digambar Jain Kshetra, Kundal Sangli.


Gallery

Shri Kalikund Parshwanatha Digambar Jain Kshetra

Notable Marathi Jains

See also

References

  1. ISBN 9788179911013
    . Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  2. ISBN 9788120604889
    . Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  3. ISBN 9788179911006
    . Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. ISBN 9780521365055
    . Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  5. ISBN 9781405171090
    . Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  6. ^ Jahaj mandir Archived 13 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine

External links

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