Jainism in Rayalaseema

Jainism is one of the ancient religions in India and its contributions is immense and inseparable from Indian culture. Dr.P. Hema has taken up for a detailed study of the contribution of Jainism, art and culture at micro level in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Since the Rayalaseema area is abutting the Karnataka and Tamilnadu regions people of different walks of life moved freely to these areas from ancient times. It led to the cultural interaction and further strengthened by the influence of Jainism. The historical background provides the growth of Jainism in Andhradesa down to the ages starting from the 3rd century B.C.E. to the Vijayanagara period basing on the literary and inscriptional evidences. Various theories proposed by the scholars regarding the advent of the Jainism into Andhra are presented judiciously and critically. The scholar brought to light new Jain centers and attempted to study the Jain Architecture, art and iconography in detailed manner and compared with other images found elsewhere. This work will be useful for those who are seriously engaged in the subject of Jainism.