________________
JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA
193
our period, of which the second $ 8, is more important. It mentions the restoration of a dilapidated Pärśva temple of Kesavāra, in this district, in the year 1385 AD. We have also short Jain epigraphs89, from Belgaum district, dated 1400 A.D. Another Jain epigraph*, has been found from Anegondi in Raichur district, dated 1400 A.D. It records the construction of a Jina temple, at the time of the Vijayanagara emperor Harihara II (1377-1404), by that devout Jain official Irugapa, the son of the minister Baicapa, both of whom were good Jains.
We should also refer to a Jain epigraph*1, of the time of the Vijayanagara emperor Sadāśiva, dated 1545 A.D. It refers to the construction of a Jina temple at Kurugodu in Bellary district, by Rāmarāya and it also mentions some gift for that newly-constructed Jina temple. This proves that, even during the last days of the Vijayanagara empire, the Jains continued to enjoy royal patronage.
Jainism in Soutkern Karnatak : Like Northern Karnatak, the Southern Karnatak also has yielded a few Jain epigraphs, of our period. As we have already said, Jainism was gradually losing its ground, all over Southern India, although a few Jain pockets somehow survived in this part of South India. The largest number of Jain epigraphs, of this period, have come from South Kanara (Dakshin Kannad) district. The earliest epigraphos, of our period, from this district, is dated in the saka year 1279, corresponding to 1357 A.D. It was discovered from a place, called Hosāl, and it mentions emperor Bukka I (called Bukkana in the epigraph) and also his Jain general Bajcaya dandanayaka. Next, we have an epigraph*s, from Koraga dated 1410 A.D., in the same district, which mentions, a temple at Bārakūru (the ancient name of Koraga) and some grant to it, by the chief of Keravase, called Pāndya-Bhūpāla. It also refers to a Jain monk called Vasantakįrti, belonging to the Balātkāragana. We have also two Jain epigraphs from Keravase, dated 1450 and 1510 A.D., respectively both
13
