The Hindu : NU to hold national seminar on Jainism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 24, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

NU to hold national seminar on Jainism

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA April 23. The Nagarjuna University (NU) is holding a two-day national seminar on "Jainism: Its contribution to Indian Culture'' at its campus in Nambur on April 26 and 27.

The NU vice-chancellor, L.Venugopal Reddy, told presspersons here that Jain charitable trust, Sri Shankheswar Parshwanath Giriraj Trust, Vijayawada, offered to spend up to Rs. One lakh and extend any other support for the seminar.

Mr. Reddy said the objective of the seminar was to focus on Jain history, philosophy and culture and to generate further studies on the subject. Not many studies have been done on the different aspects of Jainism when compared to Buddhism and Hinduism.

The Vice-Chancellor said 15 scholars from outside the State had sent in their papers. Around 20 papers had been received from scholars belonging to S.V., S.K., Osmania, Kakatiya, Andhra and Telugu universities in the and another 15 papers had been sent by research scholars working in various colleges affiliated to Nagarjuna University.

The Vice-Chancellor said NU has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jain Charitable Trust to promote studies on Jainism and hold such seminars.

The NU History and Archaeology associate professor, V. Anuradha, said Jainism entered Andhra area slightly earlier than Buddhism. It was popularised by kings who patronised it in the seventh century and held sway till the 13th century. Jainism was predominant and survived for a longer time in areas being referred to as Telangana and Rayalaseema in modern times.

Kundakundacharya, the earliest Jain exponent lived on a hill near Konakondla in modern day Anantapur. Kundakundacharya was responsible for popularising Jainism all over the sub-continent. Simhanandin, another Jain exponent who lived in modern day Cuddapah secured the patronage of the Western Ganga kings in 350 A.D.

After Buddhism lost its sway in the sixth and seventh centuries people turned to Jainism as an alternative to Vedic ritualism. Jains `Sanskritised' the tribals and sudras and promoted local languages. The first Telugu poets Ponna, Pampa and Rana were Jains. The Jain principle of social equality was borrowed by the veera shaivas. With the advent of Nannayya and revival of Hinduism the Jain poets and Jainism lost their patronage.

The Jain Charitable Trust chairman, Dharmchand Binakiya, said the seminar was being held on the eve of a major event at the Jain temple at Nambur. The idol will be installed on May 8 and Jains from all over the world will come to participate in the installation ceremony. He said the Jain community felt that required light had not been shed on Jainism and it was ready to support such studies.

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