History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c41.s6.16

v3.c41.s6.16

and thus added beauty to their vernacular writings. They also wrote the grammars of these local vernaculars in Sanskrit. They again appear to have started schools for children; as strangely enough we find in Āndhra, Tamil and Karṇāṭaka and even in Mahārāṣṭra that the first sentence taught to children in writing varṇamālā is still the Jain salutation "Om Namah Siddham". The Telugu people use the formula "Om Namah Śivāya, Siddham Namah" (Andhra-Karnatak Jainism p. 64. Studies in South Indian Jainism by Ramaswamy Ayyangar, M. A. The latter portion is said by him to be Buddhist; but it seems also to be Jain). "The first part has been added subsequently by Śaivas in the south to obliterate the influence of Jains, and when the Śaivas themselves started Matams and Pāṭhaśālas or primary schools in villages and towns." "In Kalinga or Ooriya the formula is "Siddhirastu" which is clearly Jain" (ditto). In Mahārāṣṭra "Srī Gaṇeśāya Namah" is added to "Om Namah Siddham". These relics show that formerly Jain ascetics took a great share in teaching children in the southern countries.