Jain Journal 1999 01

SR No.: 520133
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 42
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 11

NAGARAJAIAH : THE CONCEPT OF SĀSTRA-DĀNA IN JAINISM
85 Similarly another pious lady Mallikabbe, a queen consort of śāntisena-rāja also got copied by the skilled and professional copyists, Mahā-dhavalā (Mahābanana). Sue is praised with the epithets Šilanidhi, an abode of amiable disposition and mahā-yasasvini, a great splendour of glory. Mallikabbe, to commemorate the completion of the Srīpañcami-vrata, she had the Mahā-dhavalā copied and respectfully dedicated to her preceptor Māghanandi-muni, as an act of śāstradāna, providing āgama texts, one of the six essential duties of an householder. Though further details about Mallikabbe and her spouse śāntisena-rāja are still lacking, yet it can be safely said that Mallikabbe, perhaps on the guidance of Devamati, did this act of greater significance, in the beginning of 12th century. Māghaṇandi-SiddhāntaDeva was also a senior confrère of Subhacandra-Siddhānta-Deva, in the Mandali-nād principality.
The copyists of the Dhavalā commentaries were also Jains and well-versed in Prakrit, Sanskrit and Kannada. They have taken extra care and bestowed keen interest in selecting 'Sitāle' the best variety of palm-leaf more flexible and durable, with the maximum length of thirty inches long and 32 to 4 inches in width. Instead of using 'Kantha', an iron style to write on the palm-leaf, the devoted copyists have used a specially prepared ink that would last long for centuries. Miniature paintings on the palm-leaf, wherever possible, is done with extraordinary details and care.
The resplendent Subhacandra-Siddhāntadeva was a pontiff of Mūlasangha, Desiya-gana, Pustaka-gaccha and a chief pupil of Maladhārideva-yamina. One of the inscriptions of Śravanabelagola, where the ascetic expired on 3-8-1123, Friday, has recorded in detail the achievements of Subhacandradeva in detail, he is praised as a crest-jewel of philosophy, benefactor of the world, destroyer of the pride of the cupid. He was the preceptor of the entire family of the illustrious Ganga-rāja, the Mahā-pracaņda-dandanāyaka the general of Vişnuvardhana, the Hoysala king. Gangarāja consecrated the nisidhi at Śravanabelagola where the seer died; on that occasion Jakkaņabbe, another disciple of the monk and elder brother's wife and sister-inlaw of Gangarāja, also arranged for the worship of Jina. (EC. II (R). No. 135 (117). A.D. 1123. pp. 79-83).