Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 387

SECTION II RELIGIOUS POLICY OF KHĀRAVEL A
The ability to foster all religions and to vouchsafe protection, and to extend patronage to all religious sects and institutions, constitutes just another text for determining the status of a king overlord. The invocation formula of the Hāthigumphā inscription—"Namo arihamtānam namo sava-sidhūņam" clearly brings out that Jainismi was the religious faith of king Khāravela. Further, it was also the faith of other excavators of caves on the Khaņdagiri-Udayagiri. For instance, the Inscription of Khāravela's Chief Queen records that the cave, commemorating her name, was excavated for the use of Kulinga recluses of Arhat persuation. Similarly, the thirteenth year's record of Khāravela's reign line 14) says that cavesa were excavated on the Kumāri hill to serve as resting places of the Arhats or Jaina saints.3
The Hāthigumphā inscription goes to prove further that Jainism had become the State-religion of Kalinga even long before the reign of Khāravela. With the royal support at its back, it had grown to be the predominant faith in Kalinga. The twelfth year's record (line 12) clearly brings out the following facts of importance in this connection :(a) That, when king Nanda had invaded and con
quered Kalinga, he carried off the image (or throne)
1. Original: “Arhanta pūsūdīnūń kali:iginiň samaņāanälilo"
2. Dr. Barua (OBI, p. 25) cays that the number of caves excava. ted was 117. Instead of 'jivadehasayikä parikhäta', ho reads 'sattadasa leņa-satam käräpitam'. (Line 14)
3. Original : “Kumiri-pavate arahatehi palchina sansitehi käyanisi. diyaya...jivadehasayikā parikhäta."-Line 14.