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Status of Jainism in India :: 117
(vii) Kalachuris of Kalyāņi
In addition to these major dynasties and their rulers it has been emphasised that the Kalachūri rulers (from 1156 to 1183 A.D.) of Kalyān were Jainas and naturally in their time Jainism was the state religion. (viii) Minor Rulers
On the same lines the Alūpa kings of Tuļuva (i.e., modern South Kanārā district of Karnāțaka) showed leanings towards Jainism and the inscriptions reveal that Jainism was patronised by these Alūpa kings. Further, Jainism was the state religion of the minor states of Punnāța, of the Sāntaras, the early Chāṁgalvas, and the Kongalvas, as testified by their inscriptions. Similarly, the Rattas of Saundatti and Belgaum and the Silāhāras of Kolhapur were Jainas by religion.
Thus from early ages various royal families came forward as champions of Jainism and it is no wonder if their example was followed by their feudatories.
(B) In Andhra and Tamilnadu
In the far South, Tamilnadu disclosed traces of Jaina domination almost everywhere and on many a roadside, a stone image of Tīrthankara may be seen either standing or sitting cross-legged. From the ancient and important sangama literature and other archeological and epigraphic sources it is evident that Jainism flourished in the Tamil country from the earlier times intelligible with our present means. Jaina epigraphs have been discovered in Anantapur, Bellary, Cuddapah, Guntur, Krishna, Kurnool, Nellore, North Arcot, South Kanara, and Vizagapattam districts of former Madras Province. These Jaina epigraphs and other Jaina relics clearly indicate the larger vogue that Jainism once had in that part of the country.
Thus the whole of south India comprising the Deccan, Karnataka, Andhra and Tamilnadu was a great stronghold of Jainas, especially Digambara Jainas, for more than one thousand years. Apart from the provincial capitals, Shravana
