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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
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BUDDHISM IN KASHMIR images of Buddha (IV. 215, 211). His son-in-law īsānacandra, a physician, built also a vihāra (IV. 216). Cankuna was credited as a Tantrik Buddhist with the acquisition of some magical powers by which he charmed the king. At the king's request, he imparted the charms to him and took in return the image of Buddha which had been brought by Lalitāditya from Magadha. Both Kalhana and Ou K’ong testify to its existence."
Jayāpida One of the notable kings of this line was Jayāpida. Kalhana records that he owes the throne to a Candāla called Srideva who killed the usurper Jajjā (IV. 475) and remained always guarded by the fierce Candālas (IV. 516) specially at night. He bore an antipathy to the Brahmanas whom he treated very cruelly (IV. 640 ff.). He loved learning and assembled learned men in his court (IV. 488-9). He worshipped both Visnu and Buddha, and set up Vişņu temples, Buddha images and a large vihāra (IV. 484, 507-8) in his capital Jayapura. Very probably it was during his reign that śāntiprabha lived in Kashmir along with his disciples Punyakirti, Dānasila, Visesamitra, Prajñāvarman and Acārya Sūra.”
Avantivarman (855 A.D.) Jayāpida was followed by Avantivarman, who along with his ministers showed veneration to Visnu and Siva. Like Jayāpida he patronised learning, and prohibited the killing of living beings (V. 64). During his reign Bhatta Kallala and other Siddhas appeared in the country (V. 66). This seems to indicate that about this time Tantric Buddhism made some headway in Kashmir. The
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Räjat. iv. 262 and Stein, I, p. 144 n. Schiefner, p. 204; Bu-ston II, p. 161.
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