Comprehensive History of Jainism Volume II

SR No.: 002003
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Aseem Kumar Chaterjee
Publisher: Firma KLM Pvt Ltd
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 414
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Religion
File Size: 19 MB

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COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF JAINISM
a lamp for the temple. We have already seen in the first volume of our works, that the Pallavas, sometimes, promoted the cause of the Jain religion. The second epigraph”, from the same site, dated in Rājendra's 13th regnal year (1025 A D.), records a gift of money for a lamp and for offerings to the Jain temple called KundavaiJinālaya, by the wife of a merchant, who appears to be of Kannada origin. Kundavai, the elder sister of Rājendra, is also otherwise known' for her patronage of other religious systems. It is apparent from the epigraph that the hill of Tirumalai was a part of Vaigavur palļiccandam "a village belonging to a Jaina temple." The Jaina temple here, therefore, was apparently named after this great lady.
We have an important undated Jain epigraphs from the same Tirumalai, which proves that the Cera rulers of Kerala were deeply interested in the religion of the Jinas. The epigraph refers to king Elini as the ruler of Kerala and represents him, as one responsible, for the building of the image of a Yaksha and Yakshi on the holy mountain of Arhat' meaning the Tirumalai hill. They were afterwards rebuilt by a later descendant of Elini..
For the reign of Rājendra II Parakesari (1052-1064), we have an undated Jain inscription from Tirumalai, which records a gift to the Jain temple there, by two Karņāțaka gentlemen, who served in the army of Rājendra II. This further proves that the Jain temple-complex of this sacred hill, was quite well-known in South India. We have another short Jain epigraph 10 from the same hill, belonging to the 11th century, recording the names of a Jain teacher called Arishțanemi Ācārya, a disciple of Paravādimalla, who is also known from an epigraph of Sțavana Belgola.
For the reign of Kulottunga I (1070-1120 A D.), we have five Jain epigraphs, which prove that Jainism continued to exist in different regions of his vast kingdom, including Thanjavur, North Arcot, Rāmanathapuram and Chengalpattu districts. The epigraph1l, discovered from