Spread and architecture of Jainism

Spread of Jainism

• Mahavira organised an order of his followers with admitted both men and women.
• Jainism did not very clearly mark itself out from Hinduism, therefore it spread gradually into west and South India where brahminical order was weak.
• The great mauryan king Chandragupta Maurya, during his last year became a jain ascetic and promoted Jainism in Karnataka.
• Famine in Magadha led to the spread of Jainism in South India.
• The famine lasted for 12 year and in order to protect themselves, many Jain's  went to South India under the leadership of bhadrabahu.
• In Orissa it enjoyed the patronage of Kalinga king of a Kharavela.

Architecture of Jainism

• Lenya /gumphas (caves)

1. Ellora caves, Maharashtra.
2. Mangi Tungi cave, Maharashtra.
3. Gajpantha cave, Maharashtra.
4. Udaygiri khandagiri caves, Odisha.
5. Hathi gumpha caves, Odisha.
6. Sittanavasal cave, Tamilnadu.

• Statues

1. Gometeshwara / Bahubali statue- Karnataka.
2. Statue of Ahimsa (Rishabhatha)- mangi Tungi hills, Maharashtra.

• Jianalaya (Temple)

1. Dilwara temple- Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
2. Girnar and palitana temple- Gujarat.
3. Muktagiri temple- Maharashtra.

• Others

💥Manastambha- It is found in the front side of the temple, having religious importance with an ornamental pillar structure carrying the image of Tirthankara on top and on all four cardinal directions.

💥Basadis -- Jain monastic establishment or temples in Karnataka.