Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 241

The Followers of the Ever Growing One
221
- At Soratūru an inscription of 1071 relates a somewhat unusal fact: General Baladevalayya commissioned the building of a temple and entrusted the oversight of the task, and also that of the adjoining property to Huliyabbājjike, an āryikā disciple of Śrinandi Pandita of the Saurastragana. 247
This āryikā must have been somewhat exceptional, for as a rule responsibilities of this kind were entrusted to munis.
-At Gudigere, in the district of Dhāravāra, in 1076, Aștöpavāsi Kantiyār (Kantiyār of the eight fasts), disciple of Śrinandi Pandita, made at the request of this latter, a gift of a piece of land for the temple of Pārsvanātha. 248
- In the place called Somavāra an inscription dated the seventh day of the bright fortnight of bhadra (August-September) of saka 1017 (1095) mentions the name of Arsabbe Gantiyar, disciple of Bhattāraka Ramacandra of the Saurașțragana 249
After the XIIth century, inscriptions are found more rarely and among those that are known, no mention, it seems, is made of the names of āryikās; this indeed, is in keeping with the slow decline of Jainism in the region, a decline that was due to political, social and religious factors. The influence of the great Śrivaişņavite sage, Rāmānuja, a Master of great power who set forth the doctrine of
247 Ibid., pp. 143-145; 169; Huliyabbe-ajjike, ajjike for āryikā; disciple: śishyinti.
248 Ibid., pp.144; 169. A question arises, viz., since an āryikā aster dikṣā no longer owns any property, so was there perhaps in existence a less strict sect as regards aparigraha? Or had this kantiyār not yet pronounced the mahāvratas?
249 BhattSamp, No 13; pp. 7; 29.