History of Rastrakutas of Malkhed and Jainism

SR No.: 006719
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 374
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 83

22/ The Rāstrakūtas and Jainism
2.1.4. Amõghavarşa was a lover of literature, both religious and secular. He was himself a litterateur, proficient in Kannada, Sanskrit and Prakrit. As discussed elsewhere, he was authored Praśnõttara-ratnamālā in Sankrit, after abdicating the throne in the evening of his life. The opening stanzas of Ganitasāra-samgraha, of the dexterous Mahāvirācārya, also substantiate that the monarch had renunciated his terrestrial interests and had partiality towards syādvāda philosophy (Jaina Siddhānta Bhāskara, vol. IX, part. I. pp. 1-8]. Dhavala-Tikā (C. E. 816). Jaya-dhavala-Tikā (C. E. 837), Pārsvābhyudaya (825), Caūpannamahāpurisa-cariya (Silacārya, C. E. 869), Jambūdiva paņņatti (Padmanandi) and other works of this period created ripples of fresh impetus and stimulus in the Jaina Church.
2.1.5. The best connoisseurs during his time were his court-scholars. Great luminaries of classical Sanskrit like Asaga, the brilliant exponent, and Jinasina-II the nestor. Of śāstra literature like Śākatāyana (Pālyakirti) the felicitous grammarian and Mahāvirācārya, the skilled arithmetician; of Prakrti literature like Virasina, Jinasena and Puspadanta the epic writers, of Kannada literature like Srivijaya, Bhrājisņu, Guņavarma-I, Pampa and Ponna- lived at this epoch. The dimension and visage of their contribution needs in extenso coverage and will be taken up at the appropriate place. (Vide the chapter on literature).
2.1.6. Famous Jaina settlements like Biccavolu [AP:East Gödāvari Dt], and Rāmatirtham [AP : Vishākapatnam Dt] received plenteous patronage from Amõghavarşa. Sīla, consort of Kalivişnuvardhana, and daughter of Karka, a regent of Amõghavarşa, commissioned the east Gödāvari Biccavol Vardhamāna temple at Biccavol [Birudankarāya prõlu). Fortunately the Jina idol of this shrine is recovered and is now in the Madras Museum.
2.2.1. The reign of Akālavarşa Krsna-II (878-914) saw