Jain Siddhant Bhaskar

SR No.: 010062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hiralal Jain, Others
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1940
Total Pages: 143
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 7 MB

Page 131

No. IV)
NEW STUDIES IT SOUTH INDIAN JAINISM.
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foundation has kept up its universality or democracy within its fold. The earliest of such a 'memorialist' mention is No. 2, in old archaic canarese characters and language referring to Nāgamati Ganti (female) desciple of the excellent Silent guru of Chittur in Adeyarenad The earliest in modern Canarese characters and language is No. 72 of 1809 A.C. referring to Aditakirtti Deva who " having fully completed a fast of one month, went to Swarga in this cave."
Very early in its history, even during the period of its earliest undated archaic descriptions, Belgola came to be called “Sri tirtha." Now, in South Indian languages, 'thirtha' means 'water' In regard to places of pilgrimage it includes a 'bath' or "immersion" idea also, as in the Kanarese expression "thirthamādu." It also means
the sacred water, from the feet of the sacred images' as in the expression " Sripada thirtham;" but essentially it means 'transcending' i.e., a mental or spiritual Lightening, purification or sublimation. That such a spiritual 'accession' was intended by the use of the word 'thirtha' in ancient times is witnessed to, even by the epigraphs from Sravana Belgola. These instances will again show that it is the 'sages' that lived on the Hill that were the real thirthas and that the locality was made a 'thirtha' as being their habitat:
For Example (1) of kamlabhadra it is said in No. 54 of 1128 A. C. :
“Smarana-mātra pavitrataman mano bhavati yasya satām iha tirthinām tam ati-nirmalam atma visuddhaye kamlabhadrasarovaramāsraye"
Trans:-"Him by only thinking on whom my mind becomes a thirtha for the good, that pure lake Kamalabhadra (or of suspicious lotuses) do I serve for my own purity.“ (Lewis Rice.)
(it). Of Matisagara it is said in the same inscription i.e., No. 54. “Tîrtham Sri matisagarð gurur ilā chakram chakāra sphuraj jyotih pîta tamarpayah pravitatih putam prabhatāsayah."
Trans:--"Sri Matisagara guru made the whole world a tirtha, by his glory dispersing the darkness of ignorance, of a worthy mind, etc." Thus, in inscription after inscription, at Begola, it occurs again and again, that, to follow those great earliest Jaina sages