The Charity of Jainism to Tamils based on Naladiyar

Abstract

Jainism spread in Tamil Nadu in the 3rd century AD. Jains aim to show love and grace to all. The people of Tamil Nadu embraced Jain religious ideas. Jains contributed to Tamil by composing many books, ranging from Sangam literature to grammar books. In this, the Jains have emphasised many virtues, such as wealth, impermanence, the impermanence of the body, not desiring other women, friendship with virtuous people, and tolerance of mistakes made by friends. The purpose of the Jain religion in Tamil Nadu was to spread their religion among the people. Although on one hand, they tried to spread the Jain religion, on the other hand, they composed various books in Tamil for the Tamils and in the Tamil language for the people to cherish in their minds. In the books composed by them, generally how an individual should live in society, the virtue of not causing suffering to even a small life, and the principles of justice such as morality and dharma are emphasized.