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COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF JAINISM
of Mālava janapada. It appears from this short epigrapb, that the monks of Northern India, used to visit or even stay in Southern parts of the country. After the 11th century, Karnāțaka became the safest place for the Digambara monks of other parts of India.
Another important epigraph17, from this place, is dated 1077 A.D., corresponding to the 2nd year of Vikramaditya Vl's reign. It refers to the gift given to the Jain monk Rāmasena, who was the disciple of Gupabhadra, belonging to the Mūlasangha, Senagana and Pogari gaccha. The donor was Barmadeva, the governor of that area, and the gift was given for the Cālukya-Ganga Permāņadi jinālaja.
Another very important Jain centre of this district, was Humcha, which was known in ancient times, as Pomburca. The earliest Jain epigraph175, of this place, is dated in Śaka year 819, corresponding to 897 A.D. It was the capital, from the very beginning, of the king of the śāntara dynasty, who according to the epigraphs176, originally belonged to Northern Madhurā or Mathurā, which, as we all know, was a great centre of Jainism 177, from pre-Christian times. It is also interesting to note that the earliest member of this dynasty viz. Jinadattarāya has been described in the epigraphs178, as being favoured by the Jain goddess Padmāvati, There is little doubt, therefore, that nearly all the members of this royal dynasty, openly patronised the religion of the Jinas. The earliest Jain temple, of this place, was built in 897 A.D., by Tolāpurusha Vikramāditya śāntara for his guru Mauni Siddhānta Bhattāraka, belonging to Kondakunda anvaya.179 Next, we have an epigraph 180, of the early 10th century, which informs us of the erection of a Jain temple, at this place, by Paliyakka, the queen of Tolā. purusha śāntara. It was known as Pāliyakka temple.
Next, we have an epigraph 181, of 1062 A.D., of the time of Trailokyamalla alias Someśvara I (1043-68), from Humcha, which mentions his, governor Vira śāntara and the latter's officer Pattana-svāmi Nokkaya Setti, who built a Jina
