Literature is a reflection of life. Hence we can learn about a particular people and their lives from the literature of that particular age. There is evidence of the existence of Jainism even in ancient Tamil classics like Tolkaapium and many of the Sangam works. Apart from literary works, there are Jain sculptures and structures and also references to Jainism in inscriptions and documents.

These facts prompt us to ask questions like, were the Jains native to Tamil soil, or did they migrate from elsewhere? If they were migrants, where did they come from, why and when? How did they interact with the Tamils? Did Tamil and the Tamils benefit from the impact of the Jains? The primary aim of this lesson is finding the answers to these questions. But before that, let us learn something about Jainism.

The word camanam (Jainism) comes from the word ‘ciramana’. ciramanar (Jains) meant those ‘who accepted joy and sorrow with equanimity’. Their basic principle in life was not to inflict pain on any living being. The Jains believed that (Tirttankaraas) were born in this world to propagate Jainism. Some believe that Lord Mahaveera was the founder of Jainism. But as he is the 24^th Theerthankara, it is believed that the first Theerthankara, Vrishabhatheva is the founder of Jainism.

There are laudatory references to the Jain concept of Ahimsa in the Rig Veda, which is considered to be the oldest of the Vedas. This leads us to conclude that Jainism must have been quite prevalent even before the Vedic times.

There are references to Jainism even in the Tholkappiam. If a concept has to find a place in a grammar book, it should have been dealt with in detail in a literary work earlier. Only those beliefs, customs and traditions that are deep-rooted in a particular culture, tend to be mentioned in the literature of that particular age. Hence we can conclude that Jainism must have been popular before and after the Sangam era. Even the Tirukural contains concepts that are characteristic of Jainism. There are evidences in Cilapathikaaram and Manimekalai to show that Jainism was a well-established religion even at that time.

From the above-mentioned details, it is clear that Jainism was practiced in Tamil Nadu even before the birth of Jesus Christ.