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PART V: 5
Umasvati, Siddhasena Divakara, Samantabhadra, Akalanka, Vidyananda, Haribhadra and Hemachandra made contributions which are enduring landmarks in the development of Indian thought and culture.
JAIN CULTURE
As regards the Jaina influence in the South, the laborious researches of Burness, Buhler, Burges, Hoernle, Jacobi and Lewis Rice have almost conclusively proved that the Jainas profoundly influenced the political, religious and literary institutions of that part of India. The Kural, an ethical poem of considerable importance in ancient Tamil literature, was composed about the 1st century A. D., by Saint Tiruvalluvar, who was definitely a sympathizer with Jainism. It is also now almost certain that the Tolkappiyam, an authoritative work on Tamil grammar which is perhaps the earliest among the Tamil texts extant was composed by a Jaina author. Among the other important Tamil works of Jaina authorship may be mentioned the Naladiyar and the like, composed during the early centuries of the Christian Era.
The austere life of the Jaina saints greatly appealed to the Dravidians, as did their love for the languages of the South. In the words of Frazer: "It was through the fostering care of the Jainas that the South seems to have been inspired with new ideals and literature, enriched with new forms and expressions." The period immediately following the age of the Kural was characterised by the growth of literature, mainly under Jaina auspices. The Augustan Age" of Tamil literature was the period of predominance of the Jainas in intellect and learning, though not in political power. Jainism became the religion of some of the Pandyan Kings. In the 7th century A. D., on account of their persecution in the territory under the Pallava and Fandya Kings, the Jainas migrated to Sravana Belgola in Mysore. There they sought refuge under the Ganga Rulers who extended to them their patronage.
The few who remained in he Tamil land led an obscure life devoid of all political influence in the country. Nevertheless they retained in full their intellectual vitality which had in earlier times produced such classical works as the 'Kural'. Thus, during this period of Jaina obscurity, Valaiyapati, Silappadikaram and Jivaka Shintamanithree of the five Tamil Mahakavyas, were composed by Jain authors.
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