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 40

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXIII, No. 3 January 1999 suffix for the personal names of women; thus Rāņi-cenna-bhairā-deviAmma the very nomen has a special significance.
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Cennabhaira devi is the only woman who was a mahāmaṇḍaleśvara; since the noun is a masculine form, there is nothing wrong in using the corresponding feminine form, mahāmaṇḍaleśvari; but somehow Chennabhaira-devi is described as mahāmaṇḍaleśvara. Whatever be that, she was simultaneously ruling over Gerasoppa olim Nagire (also known as kṣemapura, Bhallaṭakipura), Hāḍuvalli (Skt. Sangitapura), Bhaṭakala, Honnavara (Skt. Suvarṇapuri), Bārakur and other minor kingdoms. Jeṭṭinayaka was her minister and Viranāyaka her senāpati Mahāmaṇḍaleśvari Cennabhairādevi-Amma had her main residence at Sangitapura olim Hāḍuvalli. She was a niece of Devarasa-Oḍeya alias Kriṣṇadevanṛpati, a predecessor of Gururaya-oḍeya. Cennabhairādevi-Amma alias Cennādevi Amma succeeded to the throne after Gururāya-Oḍeya.
The queen Cennabhairādevi had to face a number of challenges both from outside and from within. At the very beginning of her reign, the Portugese captain of Goa laid seige to Bhaṭakala, one of the vital centres of her kingdom. He burnt Bhaṭakala, marched on the palace when Enkappa-nāyaka bravely stopped the enemies at the gates and fell fighting. The queen survived to rule unperturbed. Cennadevi-Amma reigned efficiently and long enough to have witnessed the fall of Vijayanagara empire (A.D. 1565).
Cennabhairava-Mahadevi, the mahāmaṇḍaleśvara, was an ardent devotee of Nirgrantha creed. She was the first woman ruler and the last ruler of the line of Hāḍuvalli-dynasty. When the able queen was ruling, her kingdom was the scene of hectic Jaina religious activities and housed within its bounds basadis dedicated to Tirthankaras and śāsana-devatās (the yakṣa-yakṣis). She extended her patronage to her faith, exquisite monasteries were caused, the friars and nuns were highly respected. Thus Jainism rose to greater heights and it was the religion of the large section of the people.
Under her able reign the kingdom prospered by leaps and bounds, social and economic conditions improved. She was exporting blackpepper to foreign countries including Europe. The Portugese had nicknamed her as kari-meṇasina-rāņi, 'queen of black-pepper'. Foreign travellers of sixteenth century and the historians have praised her valour, efficiency, wisdom and virtues.
Of the Jain temples at Gerasoppa Hire-basadi ('senior-temple') olim Pārsvanatha basadi, Neminatha basadi olim Mūḍe-basadi,