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JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA
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The well-known Sringeri, of this district, was associated with Jainism, even from the 12th century. This is proved by an epigraph®, from this place, dated Šaka 1041, corresponding to 1150 A.D. It is found in the local Pärsvanātha temple and it mentions Mülasangba, Krāgūra gana and the Pustaka gaccha. This temple, according to another 12th century epigraph 81, from Sringeri, was built by the wife of a merchant, before 1160 A.D. We have also two more Jain epigraphs, of the 16th century, from this place. 8 2 Mattāvāra of this district, which has yielded an eleventh-century Jain epigraph88, has a 14th century inscription, which mentions the local Jina temple (basadi). 84 An epigraph from Kallavasti85, in Koppa taluk of this district, dated 1529 A.D, records some grant for the local Pārsva temple, by Kālaļadevi, the sister of the king Bhairarasa Bodeyara. Another Jain epigraph88, from Koppa town, refers to the Sādhana-Jinālaya of this place, dedicated to Pārsvarātha. It is dated in Śaka 1521, corresponding to 1599 A.D. An epigraph87, from Bastipur, in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, dated 1383 A.D., refers to the local Pärśva (Pärusha) shrine, built by a prominent individual. It also mentions a few monks of Tintini gaccha and Kāpūra gana.
Chitradurga district has a Jain epigraph88, of our period, It is assigned to 1410 A.D., and it begins with a prayer to Sāntiratha. It was discovered from Dharmapura in Hiriyur taluk and it mentions the great Vijayanagara monarch Devaraya I (1406-1422), who has been given the epithet Hindu rāya-suratrāņa. It should be remembered that the contemporary Hindu king of Rājasthan, Mahārāṇā Kumbha also, as noticed by us, in the earlier chapter, of the present volume 8, has been given the similar title in a Jain epigraph. Devarāya's Jain general Gopa Camūpa has also been mentioned in this epigraph. Since the epigraph is addressed to Santinātha, it is reasonable to assume that there was a temple, dedicated to this Tirthankara, at this place.
The district of Tumkur has a few Jain epigraphs, of our
