Q. Consider the following statements regarding “Jainism”:
1.The early Jainas adopted Prakrit language of the common people to preach their doctrines.
2.Under the leadership of Bhadrabahu, Jainism spread to South India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation: Jainism gradually spread to western India where the Brahmanical religion was weak.
- The early Jainas adopted Prakrit language of the common people to preach their doctrines and discarded Sanskrit language (which was mainly patronised by the Brahmanas). This greatly helped in widening the follower base of Jainism.
- And, with the support of kings who greatly patronised Jainism, like Chandragupta Maurya (he himself became a Jaina ascetic and spent his last years in Karnataka), it became popular in southern India too.
- The great famine that occurred in Magadha after 200 years of the death of Mahavira also contributed to its spread in southern India.
- According to tradition, the famine lasted for about 12 years; and to protect themselves, many Jaina followers under the leadership of Bhadrabahu (who later came to be known as Digambaras) went South and spread Jainism there.
Source: Tamil Nadu NCERT
