Jaina Philosophy Historical Outline

SR No.: 006569
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Narendra Nath Bhattacharya
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 242
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 63

42 Jain Philosophy in Historical Outline
regnal year of Tandangala Madhava, records the grant of Kumārapura village for an Arhat temple made at the instance of Ācārya Víradeva.1 The Noņamangala copper plate grant of Avinīta, issued in his first regnal year, assigned to c. 425 AD, by Rice, shows his patronage to the cause of Jainism.? That king Durvinita, son and successor to king Avinīta, was a devout Jain is proved by later epigraphic records. We have already referred to Śivamāra's copper plate bearing testimony of his Jain leaning. The Devarahalli plates of Śrīpuruṣa,s the Āñjaneya temple inscription of Duggamāra, and many other epigraphic records show that kings of the Ganga line offered gifts to Jain monks and erected temples.
Some of the Kadamba kings were also patrons of Jainism as is proved by their inscriptions. A copper plate grant dated in the 80th year of Kākusthavarmā (who ruled towards the close of the fourth century AD) opens with an invocation to Jinendra and closes with reference to Rşabha. Grants of his grandson Mțgeśavarmā (fifth century AD) relate his donations to the cause of Jain religion and also the existence of the Jain sects like the Svetāpatas, the Nirgranthas and the Kurcakas. A copper grant of his son Ravivarmā indicates that he also maintained his father's tradition. Two grants of Ravivarmā's son Harivarmā show his leanings to the Kūrcaka sect. An inscription of the last prominent Kadamba ruler Devavarmā shows that he granted a specified field in Siddhakedāra to the Jain sect of the Yäpaņīyas,
A letter stone inscription dated AD 1129 connects the Rāştrakūta king Dantidurga with the Jain scholar Akalankadeva.10 An incomplete copper plate dated AD 807 states that Stambha or Kambha, the elder brother of Govinda III, granted the village of Vadanaguppe to the Jains.11 King Amoghavarşa was a devout Jain and a disciple
1EC, X, pp. 172-73. 2ibid, pp. 171-72. Sibid, IV, p. 135. *MAR, 1923, pp. 240-41. SIA, VI, p. 27. libid, p. 25, VII, pp. 36-38. Pibid, p. 27. *ibid, pp. 31-32. 'ibid, VII, pp. 34-35. 10EC, II, pp. 27ff. 11 MAR, 1921, p. 31; EC, II, p. 8.