Epigraphia Indica Vol 33

SR No.: 032587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sircar
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1959
Total Pages: 514
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 29 MB

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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXXIII The date of this inscription is recorded in both words and figures; but unfortunately they are not fully preserved. The incomplete passage srimad-Vikramabhüpasya varshänāṁ dvāda[ éa] in line 24 shows that the year falls in the thirteenth century of the Vikrama era. The third figure after Sar in line 25, from the part that is preserved, seems to be either 4 or 5. It may be compared with the figure 4 occurring in lines 23-25 and 5 in lines 3, 8 and 25. The date may therefore be somewhere between V.S. 1240 and 1269, i.e., between 1183-84 and 1202-03 A.D.
As already indicated above, the inscription records the restoration of the temple of Chandraprabha, the eighth Jain Tirthankara, at Prabhāsa 'on the shore of the western ocean' (line 23). It is interesting to note that verse 42 referring to the miracle associated with the image of Chandraprabha is found in Madanakirti's Sāsanachatustrimfikāl which is a Sanskrit work in 34 verses in praise of various Jain holy places. Madanakirti is considered to be a contemporary of Pandita Asadhara whose known dates range from 1228 to 1243 A.D.'.
The inscription refers to Kundakunda of Nandi-sangha (line 7). The name of this illustrious Jain teacher is associated with numerous sects of Digambara Jain teachers. Kundakunda Padmanandin was the author of many Prakrit works on Jain philosophy. Though his traditional date falls in the first century B.C., some scholars put him after Pushpadanta and Bhūtabali, the authors of the Shatkhandāgama, in the second century A.D.,' while others place him after Sarvanandin, the author of the Lokavibhāga (458 A.D.). The second of these two views appears to be nearer the truth. The domicile, from which Kundakunda's name was derived, was Kondakunde, now identified with Konkoņdala in the Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh.
Early epigraphical records of the Jain sect called Kundakund-invaya are found in Mysore State and date from 797 A.D. They refer to several subdivisions of the line, viz. Desiga-gapa," Kränür-gana, Mēshapishinagachcha, etc. The inscription under study is probably the earliest epigraphical record of this line in Northern India.
Srikirti referred to in this inscription seems to be identical with the teacher of this name mentioned in Srichandra's Kathakosha.1. In the prasasti portion of this work, Srutakirti, the disciple of Srikirti, is said to have been honoured by kings Bhöja and Gängeya,11 He was succeeded
1 Published by the Viraseva Mandir, Daryaganj, Delhi, 1950, and also in the anekanta, Vol. IX, p. 410. In its complete for the verso runs as follows: Yasys anana-pay-nuliplam akhilan kewah hati danidhayatt sauvarna-atabakéka nirmitam=iva kshamarkarari vigraham sa fuad-bhakti-vidhayind fubhalaman Chandra. prabhal sa prabhustré pakchima-sågaraaya jayatád-Digudaasan Sasanam 1
• Sathuram Promi, Jain Sahitya aur Itihas, p. 346. • Shafkhandagama, Vol. I, Intro., p. 53. • Jain Sahitya aur Itihde, p. 6. . QJMS, Vol. XLVI, pp. 1 ff.
• Cf. the Manne inscription in Ep. Carn., Vol. IX, Nelamangala No. 60. The Mercers plates of Avinita, dated Saka 388, referring to six teachers of the Kundakund-ánvaya are considered to be spuriou.
Ep. Carn., Vol. VI, Kadur No. 1 (Saks 893). • Ibid., Vol. VIII, Sorab No. 262 (Saka 997).
Ibid., Vol. VII, Shimoga No. 10 (Saks 1001). 10 The Struggle for Empire, p. 427; Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts in O. P. de Berar, p. 725. The relevant verses aro quoted below : Anahillapurė ramya sajjanal Sajjanoabhavat Pragua fa-amanishpanno mukta-ratna-baf-agranth || 2 Mülaraja-ntipendrasya dharma-sthanasya g8oh fhikal dharma-sära-dhar. adharah Karma-raja-samah pura | 3 ..........Kund-Endu-nirmalt Kundakundachary-anvayeabharat lharmo mūrlah Svayam w Srikirti nämd munTovarab || 11 Tasmaamo-pahal birhanuda prabhdvedinirmalas Srutakirtih samutpanno ratnan ratnakarād=iva | 12 .......... Gängeya-Bhöjad do-ddi-samasta-n pipa-pungavait ! müjit-ottkrish fa-påd-aravindo vidhvasta-kalmashah ||15
11 [These kings are no doubt identical with Paramāra Bhoja (o. 1010-68 A.D.) and Kalachuri Gangeys o. 1015-41 A.D.).-Ed.)