Jainism in Kerala
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Jainism came to Kerala in the third century BC soon after Chandragupta Maurya (B.C. 321-297), accompanied by the Jain monk Bhadrabaahu, travelled to Shravanabelagola near Mysore (in present day Karnataka). Their followers are believed to have journeyed further south, into present day Kerala and Tamilnadu, in search of suitable places for meditation. By the start of the Christian era, Jainism was well established in Kerala. Ilango adikal, author of the Tamil epic Silappadikaram, was among the notable royal patrons of the Jain religion in Kerala. Trikkanaa-Mathilakam, where Ilango adikal lived, attained fame as a centre of Jain religion and learning.
There were many Jain temples spread over Kerala in ancient times. The temple at Koodalmanikkyam in Irinjalakuda is believed to have been among them. The belief is that it was dedicated to Bharatheswara, a Digambar Jain monk (his statue can be seen in Shravanabelagola). Jainism declined in popularity in Kerala during the Saivite and Vaishnavite resurgence, and many Jain shrines, among them Koodalmanikkyam, became Hindu temples ( [1] ). The temple at Kallil, in Perumbavoor, was believed to have been a Jain shrine to Parsvanath, Mahavirathirthankar, and Padmavathi Devi. Now it is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Devi, but Jain pilgrims also come to pray at the shrine.
Jainism started its decline in Kerala during the 8th century resurgence of the Saivite and Vaishnavite movements, and by the 16th century it had almost disappeared. Some Jain shrines from these times still remain, notably in Jainamedu, near Vadakkanthara, Palghat, and in Sulthan Batthery in Wynad.
The temple architecture of Kerala owes much to Jain Vaasthu Silpa.
At present, Jainism in Kerala has a very small following, mainly from the Gujarati business community, to be found in Kochi and Calicut.
[edit] Main temples
1. Jain Derasar in Mattancherry (Kochi) - This derasar is dedicated to Theerthankara Shree Dharmnath Swamy. It has completed 100 years and has become a Theerth. A sthanak is also there inside the big temple complex. There is a big Jain Community in Kochi.
2. Jain Derasar in Allepey - This temple is located in Allepey (Allappuzha) which is also known as the Venice of the east. It is very calm and quiet temple. Allepey has a very small Jain population.
3. Jain Derasar in Calicut - There are 2 temples inside the temple complex of which one is over 2500 years old and has 1000 pillars.
