Glimpses of Jaina Vestiges in Andhradesa

Author(s): H Sarkar
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

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70
H. Sarkar
Nirgrantha
And to judge from the characters, king Indra will have to be identified with the Rāstrakūta Nityavarsa Indra III, for whom we have the dates A. D. 915 and 9167 or with Indra IV, the grandson of Krsna III who died in A. D. 982. Before attempting to decide which of the two kings could be intended here, it may be useful to mention the existence of a record of the Rastrakūța king Nityavarsa in the Jaina ruins of Dänavulapādu, quite close to where the subjoined pillar was dug. It is engraved round the rim of a stone pedestal and consists of a single Sanskrit verse...." Sastri is inclined to identify the king with Indra III; in other words, both the epigraphs belong to the beginning of the tenth century A. D. This inscribed pillar surmounted by a kalaśa appears to be a nisidhi and bears three bas-reliefs (Plate 11); the lowest has a horse with a rider together with an umbrella-bearer standing behind; the central one shows a kneeling worshipper; and the upper panel bears a seated Tirthankara with a Yakşa and Yakși on each side, besides three lions. The stone pedestal referred to in the quotation above is a fine piece of caturmukha sculpture (Plate 12). The circular base or panivattam is finely sculptured and bears an inscription the purport of which is that Nityavarsa (Indra III) caused this pītham for the bathing ceremony of śāntinātha, the 16th Tirthankara. There are about half a dozen nisidhis here2l, each of which bears an inscription (Plates 13 and 14). One such memorial refers to Kanakakīrtideva, a preceptor of Ādisetti, while the other mentions one Ādi(setti), son of Ballava Simgisetti of Penugonde. Another pillar divided into two panels-lower one showing a worshipper and the upper seated Tīrthańkara-mentions the burial as of Mamgava, daughter of Vijayanna, a vaisya of Penumgonda. This Penuṁgonda or Penugonde is modern Penukonda in District Anantapur and was famous as one of the vidyasthanas or seat of leaning of the Digambara Jainas of Karnataka. These epigraphs may belong to the 14th century. It is thus evident from the foregoing discussion that Jainism flourished in Andhradeśa from the seventh to about the 14th century. There were Jaina settlements all over the coastal areas and in Telingana and Rāyalsīmā regions. Impetus came not only from Karnataka but also from Maharashtra and Central India; the plastic tradition betrays virtually np influence of the Tamil country.