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JAINISN IN NORTH INDIA
191
From North Kanara district, we have a few Jain epigraphs, which show that, from the 14th century onwards, Jainism was becoming popular in this district. Desaio has drawn our attention to several places of this district, which were known for their Jain temples. Gerasoppe, of this district, was especially well-known for its Jain temples, most of which were constructed after 1350 A.D. We have several epigraphs from this place, a few of which are im. portant. The earliest Jain epigraph28, from this place, is dated in Śaka year 1300, corresponding to 1378 A.D. It mentions the king Haiveya and some Jain ministers and merchants, all of whom were good Jains. This epigraph and another from the same placeas, mention a devoted Jain lady called Rāmakka, who constructed a temple of Ananta. Dātha, the 14th Tirthaikara at Gerasoppe. This lady was the wife of Yojanasejți, a prominent Jain merchant, who is also mentioned in both the epigraphs. The third epigraph 5, from Gerasoppe is dated in Saka 1323, corresponding to 1401 A.D., wbich records the death of the son-in-law of king Haiveya, who was a dedicated Jain, A more important Jain epigraph 28, from this place, dated 1421 A.D., records some gift for the Pārsvanātha temple of this place. It mentions several gentlemen and ladies of a family, all of whom were dedicated Jains. We will afterwards see in the chapter on the Jain Tirthas that Gerasoppe was looked upon as a sacred Jain place by the Jain monks of North India.
Other places of North Kanara district have also yielded Jain epigraphs. One such place was Bhatkal, from which we have a Jain epigraph'', dated Śaka 1332, corresponding to 1410 A.D. From Sonda of this district we have two copper plates 28, of 1522 A.D., which record some gift for the Huligere Samkha basadi, by a prominent citizen of this area. Both the epigraphs mention the monk Candraprabha, who belonged to the D:si gana, and who was a disciple of Vijayakirtideva.
Biligi in the same North Kanara district was a great Jain
