Jain Journal 1981 04

SR No.: 520062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 79
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 65

APRIL 1981
175
Paudanya and Paudana were still earlier variants of the place name. According to the Mahābhārata, Paudanyapura was founded by Asmaka. Asmaka was also the name of a country, figuring in the Purānas. It lay between the rivers, Godavari and Narmada, having Podanapura as its capital. Asmaka becomes Assaka in the Buddhist literature wherein Assakas are referred to as a people or a tribe. The Buddhist writers mention this place as Potana and Potali.3 In the Dasakumāracarita, chap. 8, the king of the Asmaka country is stated to have been a feudatory of the ruler of Vidarbha.
Podana appears to have been a stronghold of Jainism in very early times. It is celebrated in the Jaina literature as the capital of Bahubali, son of the first Tirthankara, whose former name was Purudeva. It is also mentioned in the life of Parsvanatha.5 By the time of the 10th century A.D. it had ceased to be a centre of Jaina faith, and legends and miraculous tales had grown around it. This is illustrated from an account of the foundation of the statue of Gommatesvara at Sravana Belagola by Camundaraya as narrated in an inscription from that place. The emperor Bharata, elder son of Purudeva, caused to be made near Paudanapura, an image of Bahubali, 525 bows high. After the lapse of time, a world-terrifying mass of immeasurable kukkuța sarpas sprang up near the image. Afterwards the region became invisible to the common people, though seen by many skilled in charms. There could be heard the sound of celestial drums ; and there could even be seen the details of divine worship. On hearing of the supernatural powers of the Jina a desire arose in the mind of Camundaraya to see him. But finding that the place was distant and inaccessible, he caused to be made the image of Gommatesvara and installed it at Sravana Belagola.
3 Nundo Lal Dey : Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India, pp.
12-13. But its identification with Pratishthana is evidently incorrect (p. 157). 1 Adipurana, IX, 65-prose passage, XIV, 43-prose passage, etc. 5 Bharati (Kannada Journal), 1933, September, p. 26, f.n. 19. 6 Ep. Carn., vol. II, no. 234. Bodhana had inherited similar legends in the Brah
manical literature also. This is testified by the Mahabharata of the Kannada poet Kumara Vyasa. In the Bakavadha Parva the poet specifically refers to the place by its name Bodana and describes the events originally attributed to Ekacakranagara as having taken shape in this region. The place is also spoken of as Viprapura and Bahudhanyanagari in the chapter.
Carn, vol. Il. Journal), 1952 XIV, 43-pros is evidently