Tulu Jains

Jains in South India are a minority community. They are one of the oldest communities in South India and a link to pre-Hindu past of South India.

Jainism in coastal Karnataka

One of the earliest families that ruled Karnataka were the Kadambas. Their rule extended to present day Dakshina Kannada district. Though the initial Kadamba kings were Brahmins(or Brahmins who became Kshatriyas), the later kings converted to Jainism and encouraged Jain culutre in coastal areas.

The present day, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts were ruled by another Jain dynasty of Alupas.

Generally, ruling elites and rich merchants converted to Jainism in South India. Therefore, the population remained small throughout the history.

Jains in Tulu Nadu

Jains in Tulu Nadu are generally a prosperous community. They are mostly concentrated in Karkala taluk of Udupi district in coastal Karnataka. The town of Moodabidre is famous for its numerous Jain basadis, notably the 'Savira Kamba Basadi' (Thousand pillar basadi)

In Karnataka, Jains formed 0.78% of the population according to 2001 census. However, majority of Jains in Karnataka today are migrants from North India. The natives, Kannada and Tulu Jains, are a minority even among this population. However, their exact numbers is unavailable.

Culture and Customs

Karkala was the biggest Jain cultural centre. Many Jain "Basadi" (temples), a mammoth statue of Bahubali or Gomateshwara could be seen there.

Tulu Jains were matrilineal, a system unique to Tulu Nadu and Kerala regions. They belong to Digambara sect of JainismFact|date=February 2007.

As many of Jain customs and surnames resemble that of Bunts, they are sometimes confused with that caste. However, Jainism in South India predates any caste specific divisions. The ancient Kadamba royal family aside, Jain surnames are either titles or occupation specific names that could be observed among Hindu castes in Tulu Nadu and even in Tamil Nadu. One of the common surname Hegde or "Heggade" is a title for a headman and could be seen among Tulu Bunts and among Kannada Brahmins in coastal Karnataka. Another surname Ballal resembles Vellala of Tamil Nadu. Also "Ballal" was the title of few Hoysala kings too. Hoysala kings were Jains initially but later converted to Vaishnavite Hinduism. Other surnames of Jains are "Alva", "Ariga","Ajila", "Konde", "Padival" etc.

Miscellanea

The famous Manjunatheshwara Temple temple of Dharmasthala was built and run by Tulu Jains. It is hailed as a model of communal harmony as the temple is Shaivite, the priests are Vaishnavites and the authorities are Jains.

Prominent Tulu Jains

* Jagadguru Bhattaraka Srimad Devendrakeerthi Maharaj of Humbaj [Mysore State Gazetteer, 1965, Director of Print., Stationeryand Publications, Mysore]
* Padmanabh Jaini Author, scholar and Professor at University of California, Berkeley [Collected Papers on Jaina Studies By Padmanabh S. Jaini, 2000, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 8120816919]
* Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala [Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala, in Charisma and Commitment in South Asian History: Essays Presented to Stanley Wolpert, Ed, Roger D. Long2004Orient Longman]

ee also

*Tamil Jains

References