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Chapter IV
JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA
( 1300-1600 A.D.)
As we have already seen, the Jain religion gradually disappeared from almost the whole of South India, with the exception of Karnatak. And even there, if was fighting a losing battle against heavy odds. In this chapter, we will first take note of the position of Jainism in Karnatak, and then we will have to refer to a few scattered Jain records, found from other parts of South India. Even in Karnatak, Jainism continued to exist, as a separate religious system, only in a few selected pockets. The maximum number of Jain epigraphs have come from Shimoga district.
Jainism in Shimoga district :- This particular district of Karnatak, as we have already seen, has yielded a very large number of Jain epigraphs of different periods. Some of the places, which were well-known as centres of Jainism, have also yielded Jain epigraphs, of this period. Kuppatūru of this district, which has already been discussed in the earlier chapter of the present volume, has two epigraphs of our period. The first inscription? mentions the restoration of a dilapidated Jaina temple (jirņajinabhavana) by one Adideva, who was the disciple of Devacandra yati of the Deśī gana, in the Śaka year 1289, corresponding to 1307 A.D. The second epigrapb, which is much more important, is of the reign of the Vijayanagara emperor Devarāya I (1406-1422), the son of Harihara II. The inscription is dated in the saka year 1330, corresponding to 1408 A.D, It records that in the reign of this king, the samanta Gopipati II, of this town (Kuppațūr), built a Jina temple. He was the lay disciple of Ācārya Siddbāntācārya, belonging to the Mūlasangha and the Desi gaña. The town of Kuppațūru has been described
