The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s7.67

v1.c7.s7.67

Jainism found its way into the regions south of the Vindhyas as early as the fourth century B.C. The Deccan was encircled by lands which became the second home of Jainism after it had ceased to be the dominant creed in the land of its birth. Malwa and Kalinga in the north and north-east, and Tamil-land and Mysore in the south had flourishing Jain *bastis*. The Nanda sovereign of Magadha took away a Jain image from Kalinga and Khārvela recovered it. ‘At Sravana Belgola in Mysore, Chandragupta Maurya is said to have spent his last days in the company of Jain ascetics. Khārvela rendered great services to Jainism in Kalinga. The Udayagiri and Khaṇḍagiri hills contain numbers of caves excavated for the residence of Jain ascetics.’ Sewell has noticed the existence of Jain antiquities in almost all the districts of the present-day Andhra area.¹