________________
JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA (AD 600-1000)
167
century. This inscription not only shows Mārasimha III as a sincere and devout Jaina but also gives additional information about a few of his predecessors, which have already been noticed. Mārasimha here is described as one 'who washed out all taints with the water of the daily bath of Jina and one who was devoted to the worship gurus'. We are than given a brief life-history of the Jaina saint Vādighanghala, who was originally a Brāhmaṇa of Parāśara gotra, his first name Muñjārya. His ancestors lived in the Virātadesa of the north. This individual, it appears from the inscription, was a Jaina teacher of vast learning and was well versed in Lokāyata, Sārkhya, Vedānta, Bauddha and, above all, in Jaina philosophy. Like a sun he destroyed the mass of darkness represented by the misleading teachings of other schools, we are told. His eloquence in the exposition of literature made king Ganga Gāngeya Satyavākya, a cuckoo in the grove of delights of all learning his pupil'. Ganga Gāngeya was a title of Būtuga II. We are further told that he was held in the highest esteem by the Rāştrakūta sovereign Krsna III. This great Jaina saint is further described as worshipping the 'lotus feet of Jineśvara'. To this celebrated Brāhmaṇa Jaina saint king, Mārasimha III in March Ad 963 gave as śrutaguru's fee (religious teacher's fee) a village called Bagiyur included in Badagara 300 of the Punātu 6000 in Gangapāți. The income of this village was 20 gadyānas. 65
A stone pillar inscription" of extraordinary importance, relating to the achievements of Mārasimha III, has been discovered from Sravana Belgola. It refers to several military feats of this great Ganga king. We are however not conerned here with Mārasimha's achievements. A crucial passage from our point of view is that which says that ‘he maintained the doctrine of Jina and erected Jaina temples (vasati) and mānastambhas at various places.' This passage is sufficient to show his tremendous zeal for the Jaina religion. The record closes with the statement that he relinquished sovereignty and keeping the vow of sallekhanā for three days in the presence of Ajita senabhattāraka, died at Bankāpura in Saka 896 corresponding to AD 974. I cannot resist the temptation of reproducing the last few lines of this inscription. 'O Cola king, calm your failing heart by gentle rubbing; O Pāņdya, you have escaped slaughter, stay on. O Pallava, run not away in fear from your territory; do not retreat, but remain; the Ganga chieftain Nolambántaka has gone to the abode of gods.
I should now take brief cognizance of a very interesting rock
