Arhat Parshva and Dharnendra Nexus

SR No.: 002108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 204
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English, Articles, History, Art, E000, & E001
File Size: 8 MB

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Arhat Pārsva and Dharanendra Nexus
"Arhadāyatana" got built by Mrgeśavarmā in Palāśikā, modern Halới (Khanapur Taluk, Belgaum District). Mrgeśavarmă caused to be built a Jinālaya in Palāśikā and granted 33 nivartanas of land extending from the river Mātņsast up to the Inginisamgama, to Dāmakīrti the Bhojaka (officiating priest) and Jiyanta the Ayukta ka for the Jaina ascetics of the Yapaniya, Nirgrantha, and Kūrcaka sects. Harivarma's record ends with salutation “Namorhate Vardhamānāya" (No. 13). Possibly, therefore, Mrgeśavarma's āyatana was dedicated to Jina Vardhamāna.
If the frequency of occurrence of Jina Rşabha and Vardhamana in the Calukyan and Răstrakūta periods may be taken as symptomatic of their probable still earlier representation in Karnataka, it may be expected that, in the early Kadamba period which was no less favourable to Jainism, these two Jinas may have been under warship as has been briefly discussed above. Depiction of Pārsvanātha during this period is also probable. There is, in point of fact, an indirect hint supporting this probability. Gudnapura inscription of Ravivarmā (pp. 81-91) refers to "Padmāvatyālaya" in Kallīli village. If Humca (ancient Pombuca, Shimoga Dist.), another important Jaina centre with several Jaina basadis (including that of Pārsvanātha) in Karnataka and celebrated for the Padmavati temple is any guide, in Kallīli also there must have been a Jinālaya dedicated to Pārsvanātha whose śāsana-dēvatā happens to be Padmāvatī. If this surmise is correct, then this is the earliest known indication regarding Pārsvanātha in sculpture. The village has not been correctly identified. During my exploration in Halsi, I found only one basadi, of c. 11th century A.D., but of a plan of an early tradition, consisting of a garbhagrha and a gūdhamandapa similar to a few of the early Cālukyan temples in Aihole, such as for instance the Tārābasappagudi. It is likely that this temple was perhaps of the early Kadamba founding and originally may have been in brick. In the later period stone replaced the brick, more or less following the original plan. In a neighbouring later building is a well moulded stone pithikā for a Tirthankara image, of rather an unusual type, perhaps of pre-Cālukyan period. Elsewhere in the village, in a Garuda temple, there is a simhapītha of a Tirtharkara image. Roughly a kilometer east of the village is a large ancient site at the foot of a hill within a mud fortification, locally known as “Bödke Tembe" and identified as ancient Palāśikā by me. Traces of brick structures at this site indicate that it was a town with numerous brick buildings which possibly had included the Jinālayas referred to in the inscriptions. Further explorations and excavations at this site and Kallīli area may reveal the actual remains of Jinālayas with icons of Tirtharkaras including probably Pārsvanātha of the early Kadamba period.