________________
Jain Journal : Vol. XXXVII, No. 1 July 2002 vi. EC. II (R) Shravanabeļagoļa 176 (143), C.E. 1123 (Hassan
Dt) vii. EC. VII (R) Nāgamarigala 169, C.E. 1142, Kasalagere (Mandya
Dt) viii.EC. XII (BLR) Tipțūru 93, C.E. 1174, Karadalu (Tumkur Dt.)
Bijja!adeva had the alias of Bijjaņadevarasa, a nomen used more frequently in the Jaina records. Himself being a Jaina by faith, had chosen some Jaina men as his dependable officials. Among such bona fide subordinates Recaņa camūpa was fidus Achates. Recaņa daņdādhipa (1135-1225), field-Marshal of the Kalacuri army and scion of Vāji family, related to the illustrious Dānacintāmaņi Attimabbe who commissioned 1501 Jaina temples including the magnificient Brahma Jinālaya at Lakkundi [SII, xi-i, No. 52, C.E. 1007). Recaņa, Bellona's bridegroom, bestowed his wisdom on Bijjaņa, his overlord and inspired to unsurp the Calukya throne. Accordingly history repeated and it was Bijjaņa who turned the tables to cease the throne, and declare himself independent as the emperor of newly initiated Kalucuri monarchy. Recaņa established Bijjana on the throne and helped him secure prosperity of the seven constituent elements of a king, by his might, stratagem and secret consultations. Thus Recana stretched his trunk-like strong arms so that Kalacurya-Rājyalate, the creeper of Kalacurya kingdom, could spread to flourish. [EC. VII-i (BLR) Shikaripura 197, C.E. 1180, Cikkamāgaļi).
Recaņa founded Jaina sanctuaries and monasteries at Lakkundi, Arasikere and Jinanāthapura, and patronished poet Acaņa to author Vardhamāna Purāna, a poem of 16 cantos in the Kannada language.
There are ample epigraphical, archaeological and literary evidences to show that Jainism was widespread during this epoch. 1. Rambhādevi, ardhānga-lakṣmi of Bijjaņa, renovated the
dilapipated Jaina temple at Māļakavațe olim Māļavițige in the Mandubbe-30 Kampaņa of Āņandur-300 sub-division, in C.E. 1166. [Inscriptions from Solapur District, No. 17, C.E. 1166,
Mālakavațe (Maharashtra : Solapur Dt and Tk)] 2. She also endowed the Jaina temple at Kandalagaon in south
Solapur Tk (ibid, No. 18, C.E. 1166]
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org