Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs

SR No.: 011025
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P B Desai
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 495
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 33 MB

Page 133

4. JAINISH IN KARNATAKA
extended equally into the sphere of Brahmanical as well as Jaina faiths and brought within their compass almost the whole of the Chalukyan kingdom stretching from Kalyāņa in the north to Banavāsi in the south. The record enumerates the temples and other structures dedicated to the Brahmanical gods such as Traipurusha, etc., founded in various places by this dignitary; but as we are not concerned with them here, we shall only consider his Jaina monuments. This chief caused the construction of a row of tenaments leading to the Permāļi Basadi in the capital town of Aạnigere and renovated the Tribhuvanatilaka Jinālaya and Mahāśrīmanta Basadi at Ponagunda (modern Hungund), Vira Jinālaya at Puragür (modern Hulgūr) and another Jaina temple at Kundurage. The name of this great and adventurous philanthropist is unfortunately lost in the damaged part of the epigraph.
CHĀNDAKAVATE: In Part I of the Jaina Epigraphs I have discussed some peculiar modes of erecting the Nishidhis, one of which consisted in dedi. cating a pillar, generally foruning part of a temple, to the memory of the deceased. An instance of this class of Nishidhi is afforded from this region also, At Chāndakavate in the Sindagi taluk is a pillar lying near the well called Basavaņņa Bhāvi. This pillar must have been originally installed as & Nishidhi memorial in honour of a preceptor. This is disclosed by the inscription on it, which speaks of the demise of Māghaņa ndi Bhattāraka of the Sūrastha gana and the setting up of the Nishidhi by a lady named Jākhiyabbe, a resident of Sindige. It is known from other epigraphs that Sūrastha gana was a branch of the Mūla Samght. The date of the epitaph is a. D. 1068.
HUNGUND: Hungund, the ancient name of which was Ponnugunda, was a stronghold of Jainism from early times. This fact is already disclosed by the above-noted inscription from Nandavādige, which alludes to the renovation of two Jaina temples in this place. An epigraph at Hungund itself, dated in A. D. 1074 in the reign of king Sõmāśvara II, informs that Ponnugunda was the chief town of a geographical unit of thirty villages and that it was styled Rājadhāni or 'royal seat.' The inscription registers a gift of land for the benefit of the Jaina temple named Arasara Basadi, situated in the centre of the town, made probably by Mahāmandalēśvara Lakshamaraga, the of the districts of Belvala Three Hundred and Puligere Three Hundred, at the request of his five ministerial officers, three of whom were followers of the Jaina faith. The preceptor who received the gift was Ārya Pandita of the Müla Samgha. Sürastha gana and Chitrakūta anvaya. The teachers of this line as set forth in the record is as follows: Kanakanandi
1 Bomb. Karn. Inscriptions, Vol. I, part i, No. 103. 3 An. Rep. on 8. I. Epigraphy, 1936-37, Appendix E, No. 15. 3 Bomb. Karn. Inscriptions, Vol. I, part i, No. 113.
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