________________
The Mandali Rulers / 37
Bācaladevi had earned great distinction in performing arts. The Mandali ruler Bhujabala Ganga permmāļi had conquered the strong rulers by his might, but Bācaladevi had conquered him by her talent. The way in which she captivated her husband was like a play 'nātaka'; pleased with her excellent dance performance, he gave her the befitting title of 'pātra jagadale', 'chief of the world of dancers'. She was also a versatile singer. While the king, with his crown queen Ganga Mahādevi was staying in the capital residence of Edehalli, Bācaladevi was happy at Bannikere, confirmed in its enjoyment to the third generation. Her father was an officer appointed by the king to perform domestic and ceremonial duties of the palace.
Bācaladevi was a female bee at the lotus feet of the Jina, passage maker. She was dedicated to enhance the glory of her religion, so was her elder brother Bāhubali, who had earned name and fame as a devout Jaina. Taking council with her brother Bāhubali, she erected at Bannikere a beautiful basadi called Pārsvanātha caityālaya, which was an ornament of the Mandalinãd. In the ocean-girdled world celebarated is Gangavādināņ, in it is the distinguished Mandalināờ, to which as the face Bannikere was its nose, blessing everyone was its lord Pārsvanātha. For that holy god in the year 1113 the king, Ganga Mahādevi, her four princes, ministers and the perggade Bācaladevi, in the presence of the nād-prabhus, made a grant, free of all imposts, of Būdanagere, certain lands in Bannikere, a garden, two oil-mills and certain customs-dues in both the towns. Grants were also given to the stone mason Kaloja and for the dancing girls.
The donee was the preceptor of Bācaladevi, the chief of Mūlasangha Desiga gana, Subhacandradeva munipa, a disciple of Maladhārideva yamina. For the decorations of the god, Erekaņņa, Lokkigundi prabhu, also granted one and a half Lokki gadyāna, to increase by interest and some land. These grants and the presence of all the chiefs at the basadi, go to confirm the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org