Influence of Bhagavan Mahavira's teachings on Tamils

Summary

Prof. S. Thanya Kumar explores the historical influence of Jainism and Mahāvīra’s teachings on Tamil society. He remarks that Jainism flourished in Tamil Nadu as early as the third century BCE and that both literary and epigraphic evidence attest to its antiquity. While early Tamil literature refers to the ideal of omniscience and the annihilation of karma, the author explains that Jains themselves claim their tradition in the region is even older. He discusses how the migration of Jain monks under the leadership of Ācārya Bhadrabāhu invigorated the non‑violence (ahiṃsā) cult, enriching Tamil language and culture. Tolerant Tamil society welcomed diverse faiths, but the rise of the bhakti movement in the ninth century led to the persecution of Jains and the decline of Jain influence to a few pockets. Kumar highlights the lasting impact of Mahāvīra’s teachings despite these challenges. Jain preachers, he notes, disseminated principles such as ahiṃsā, anekāntavāda and aparigraha, which permeated Tamil customs. Vegetarianism, for example, became deeply rooted in Tamil society as Jains condemned meat eating; ancient Tamil poets equated abstention from meat with Jain values. Jains also opposed animal sacrifices and spearheaded campaigns to ban such practices in temples. The author describes social customs promoted by Jains, such as avoiding heated discussions at mealtimes and observing fasting days, which were adopted by wider society. Moreover, Jain influence extended to arts and architecture: Jains pioneered temple forms with gopurams and maṇḍapas and promoted the construction of cave temples and monolithic images. They patronised fine arts and produced Tamil literature, contributing to the development of Tamil language and poetry. Kumar concludes that the ethical and cultural influence of Mahāvīra’s teachings has persisted through centuries, shaping Tamil society’s emphasis on non‑violence, vegetarianism, learning and artistic expression.