Jain History of Maharashtra Maharashtra has its history of at
least 5000 years and the from the beginning, this region is
stronghold of Jainism and Jains. The oldest evidence of Jains in
Maharshtra is Valmiki Ramayan, which states that Shabari in
Dandakaranya was a Shramani i.e. a Jain woman. In Mahabharat, it
is stated that Rukmini of Amaravati (Vidarbh) too was a
Shramani. The oldest inscription in Maharshtra is a Jain
inscription. It is in a cave near Pale village in Pune district
of Maharashtra. This 2nd century B.C.E. inscription is in
Prakrit language and contains Namokar Mantra. Marathi language
was born from a Prakrit language called Jain Maharashtri. The
first Marathi inscription is carved at Shravanbelgola, Karnatak
near the left foot of statue of Bhagwan Bahubali. It was
inscripted in C.E. 981 Maharashtra was ruled by many Jain
dynasties like Chalukyas, Rashtrakoots and Shilahars. Most of
the forts in Maharashtra are built by kings from these
dynasties. That is why you see Jain temples or idols on