Jains of Maharashtra
Encyclopedia
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.
. It was written in the Jain Prakrit
and includes the Namokar Mantra.
The Marathi language
is a descendent of the Jain Prakrit
. The first Marathi inscription known is at Shravanabelagola
, Karnataka
near the left foot of the statue of Bahubali
, dated 981
CE.
Maharashtra had many Jain rulers such as the Rashtrakuta dynasty
and the Shilahara
s. Many of forts were built by kings from these dynasties and thus Jain temples
or their remains are found in them. Texts such as the Shankardigvijaya and Shivlilamruta suggest that a large number of Maharashtrans were Jains in the ancient period.
. They are all Digambaras and are divided into four large communities:
and some other small communities:
Each of the four major communiites led by its own spiritual leader (Bhattaraka
), who heads a Matha
.
Immigrant Jains have a large population in Maharashtra. Majority of them are from Rajasthan
and Gujarat. Some of them are from Madhya Pradesh
and Uttar Pradesh
. Some of these communities have been in Maharashtra for centuries, and are now indistinguishable from the native residents of Maharashtra. They are divided in following large groups:
There are some more groups also, like:
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
has been present in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
since ancient times. The famous Ellora Caves
Ellora Caves
Ellora is an archaeological site, from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty . Well-known for its monumental caves, Ellora is a World Heritage Site. Ellora represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 34 "caves" – actually...
demonstrate that Jainism was part of a thriving religious culture in Maharashtra in premodern times.
History
The oldest inscription in Maharashtra is a 2nd century BCE Jain inscription in a cave near Pale village in the Pune DistrictPune District
Pune District is situated in Maharashtra state of India. Pune city is the district headquarters. In the last census on 2001, the total population of the district was 7,232,555, making it the fourth most populous district in India . Urban population comprises 58.08% of the total population...
. It was written in the Jain Prakrit
Jain Prakrit
Jain Prakrit is a term loosely used for the language of the Jain Agamas . The books of Jainism were written in the popular vernacular dialects , and therefore encompass a number of related dialects...
and includes the Namokar Mantra.
The Marathi language
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
is a descendent of the Jain Prakrit
Jain Prakrit
Jain Prakrit is a term loosely used for the language of the Jain Agamas . The books of Jainism were written in the popular vernacular dialects , and therefore encompass a number of related dialects...
. The first Marathi inscription known is at Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola
Shravana Belgola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali at Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
near the left foot of the statue of Bahubali
Bahubali
According to Jainism, Bahubali, called Gomateshwara , was the second of the hundred sons of the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, and king of Podanpur. The Adipurana, a 10th century Kannada text by Jain poet Adikavi Pampa According to Jainism, Bahubali, called Gomateshwara , was the second of the...
, dated 981
981
Year 981 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Viking explorer Eric the Red-haired leaves Norway to survey west of Iceland. He finds land and calls it Greenland...
CE.
Maharashtra had many Jain rulers such as the Rashtrakuta dynasty
Rashtrakuta Dynasty
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
and the Shilahara
Shilahara
The Shilahara Dynasty was a feudal clan that established itself in northern and southern Konkan and southern Maharashtra during the Rashtrakuta period...
s. Many of forts were built by kings from these dynasties and thus Jain temples
Derasar
A derasar is a temple for followers of Jainism, except for non-murtipujak Svetambaras. Derasar is a word used in Gujarat, Kutch and parts of Rajasthan, in other parts of India, the term Jain Mandir is used for all the Jain temples. Jain idols of Tirthankaras are worshipped there...
or their remains are found in them. Texts such as the Shankardigvijaya and Shivlilamruta suggest that a large number of Maharashtrans were Jains in the ancient period.
Modern Maharashtran Jain commuities
The native Jains of Maharashtra today are endogamous communiites and generally do not intermarry with the Jains who have arrived from North IndiaNorth India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. They are all Digambaras and are divided into four large communities:
- SaitwalSaitwalSaitwal is a Digambara Jain community of Maharashtra. Swahitwal means that they work for the benefit of their inner self .Saitwal community is largely concentrated in Maharashtra state, though people from Saitwal community can be found in all over India.The community is majority among Digambar...
, originally Tailors and Cloth Merchants - ChaturthaChaturthaChaturtha चतुर्थ is the biggest community of Digambara Jains. According to the Digambar Jain Directory of 1914, at that time they outnumbered Agrawals and Khandelwals ....
, originally agriculturists, now engaged in various professions - Panchama, various professions
- Kasara, traditionally coppersmiths
and some other small communities:
- UpajjhayaUpajjhayaAn Upajjhāya is a teacher in the Indian religions of South Asia.An upajjhāya is specifically a professional teacher in the technical subjects of Vedanga, i.e. Sanskrit grammar and other basic skills required for the perusal of the Vedas...
s, - KambojaKambojaKamboja may refer to:*Kamboja *Kambojas, an ancient tribe of the Hindukush in Iron Age India*Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal*Kamboj, a clan of South Asia-See also:*Cambodia*Kumbhoj, a town in Kolhapur district...
- Harada
- Dhakad A small Jain community originated and found primarily in western vidarbha districts of Akola, Yavatmal, washim and Amravati though now many people have migrated to various other parts of Maharashtra.
Each of the four major communiites led by its own spiritual leader (Bhattaraka
Bhattaraka
A Bhaṭṭāraka is the head of traditional Jain institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions....
), who heads a Matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
.
Immigrant Jains have a large population in Maharashtra. Majority of them are from Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
and Gujarat. Some of them are from Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Some of these communities have been in Maharashtra for centuries, and are now indistinguishable from the native residents of Maharashtra. They are divided in following large groups:
- AgrawalAgrawalAgrawal or Agarwal is a large and influential community in India. Agrawals are Kshatriya by birth of the Solar Dynasty but after the adoption of Vanika dharma by king Agrasena, Agrawals started dealing in business...
- OswalOswalThe Oswal are a social group of people from the Indian States of Rajasthan and Punjab. Oswals are primarily adherents of Svetambara Jainism, but a few are Digambaras and some are Hindu adherents of Vaishnavism....
- SarawagiSarawagiThe Sarawagi or Saraogi Jain community, meaning a Jain Śrāvaka, is also known as the Khandelwali. They originated from Khandela, a historical town in northern Rajasthan....
- JaiswalJaiswalJaiswal or Jayswal or Jayaswal is a geographical title referring to Jayasnagar or Jassowal or Jaisalmer or Jaswal,_Pakistan or Jaswal Pani or Jaswan or Jais Province, shared by several communities in India including"* Jaiswal Brahmins...
- Shrimali
- HumadHumadHumad is the name of an ancient Jain community originally from Rajasthan, India. Their traditional center is Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, Dungarpur and Sagwada region, often called Vagad , in Rajasthan...
There are some more groups also, like:
- BagherwalBagherwalBagherwal Digambar Jain community originated from Baghera a princely state in Rajasthan . Presently this town is situated in Ajmer district of Rajasthan.-History:...
- Palliwal
- PorwadPorwad·Porvad , also called Porwad / Porwal, are an ancient Jain community that originated from southern Rajasthan. In Sanskrit inscriptions it is called Pragvata ....
- Bannore
Links
- JainConnect.org Newly evolving Online Portal/Directory for Jain Community.
- A portal to connect jains and discuss about Jainism and other things
- Jain TirthaTirthaIn Jainism, a tīrtha |ford], a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha...
s in Maharashtra] - Ellora
- History Of Maharashtra