Reconstructing the history of Jainism in Kerala is a herculean task for historians as well as budding researchers. 

The present work is the result of an intensive investigation into the dark corners of the ‘Faith of Lord Jina’ in the modern state of Kerala, extending over a period of about fifteen hundred years of ancient and medieval periods. This work also throws fresh light on some crucial political, economic and socio-cultural aspects of ancient and medieval Kerala and contiguous regions of south India. This study is mainly based on an impartial and comprehensive study and analysis of epigraphical evidences from the three linguistic regions of Peninsular India, viz. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, comprising transcripts of hundreds of inscriptions in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Sanskrit languages. After a thorough and critical analysis of the inscriptional sources, the author presented a history of Jainism in Kerala with a new perspective in the most comprehensive manner possible.

The present book is, thus far, the most significant and original research contribution to Jainism in Kerala; besides, it open up avenues for fresh academic investigations in political, economic and socio- cultural aspects of the History of Kerala in general.

About the Author

Dr M.S. Dhiraj (b. 1978) has completed his Pre-UG in Social Sciences and Bachelor’s degree in History from University of Calicut; and his Masters in History from University of Kerala. He received his Ph.D. degree in History from Pondicherry University for his path breaking research on “Jainism in Kerala: A Historical Perspective (with special reference to Wayanad Region)”. He was a recipient of the Junior Research Fellowship of Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) for his doctoral study. 

Dr Dhiraj has 28 papers published in various international and national journals, edited volumes  and  conference proceedings to his credit; besides, he has presented 20 papers in various international and national seminars and conferences. His academic interests include jainology, archaeology, ancient and medieval political and cultural history.