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Dhadiga and Madhava, with the blessings of and under the guidance of the Simhanandi, a great Jainācharya of the times in the region. The Jainas in the Kingdom
Coming back to the Kadambas, apart from Banavasi, in the principal capital, there were a few sub-capitals of which Halshi, now a small village in Khanapur tk. Belgaum dt. then known as Palasika, was the most well known. Here was a Jaina establishment principally comprising the Kurchakas, the Nirgranthas, the Svetapatahas and the Yapaniyas known for their very simple, clean, noble conduct and exemplary religious life characterised by the principles of ahimsā etc. the basic value of the Jaina religion.
There were also few Jaina men of distinction in high positions serving the Kadamba kings, as for instance Srutakirti, the senapati Damakirti, the bhojaka, Jayakirti, the pratihari, under Kakustha Varma, Mrigesa Varma, Ravi Varma the fifth, the seventh and eight kings, respectively. Such officers were obviously loyal to the core, to their masters winning their confidence and affection. For instance Kakustha Varma is stated to have been saved from a serious fatal danger by Srutakirti. The kings were remarkably liberal while making magnificent grants to the Jinalayas in Halshi and elsewhere in the kingdom, at the request of their officers.
Viewed against the ancient history of Karnataka in particular and in India in general, such liberal attitude was just common among the kings and feudatories, great or samll. Right from at least Asoka, the Mauryan emperor, (c.273-236 B.C.), irrespective of their personal affiliation did treat all religious equally well with tolerance and reverence. In fact, many kings in Karnataka were keen on acquiring the title worthily, Chatussamayah”, i.e. one who looks after all religions equally well such as the Saiva, the Vaisnava, the Jaina and the Bauddha, the then most prominent religious. And under the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, The Hoysalas, the Vijayanagara kings, there were Jaina officers of distinction, particularly the commander-in-chief. Thus there is nothing special about the Kadambas being generous and tolerant towards the Jaina religion and community.
But a close analysis of the copper plate records of the Kadamba dynasty, and of the contemporary Gangas as well as of the succeeding ruling dynasties, on a comparative basis, indicate certain remarkable of the first towards Jainism. Let us try to review critically these aspects to understand the significance. Kadambas, the Srotriya brahmanas
The copper plate records of the Kadambas provide a fair idea about the family and their proficiency in and practices of the Vedic lore and religious
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Arhat Vacana, July 2000
