Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

Page 33

Gommagesvara Commemoration Volume patronage to Jainism for centuries after Konguņivarma I, Avinita (500-540 A.D.) and Durvinita (550-600 AD.) were devout Jainas. Pūjyapada the celebrated grammarian, was their spiritual teacher. King Sivamāra II built the Basadi on the smaller hill at Sravanabeļgola.
Jainism also gained the royal benevolence of the Kadambas and the Rāšţrakūtas. Kadambas were essentially Brahminical in religion; yet some of them fostered the cause of the Jaina religion in Karnataka. King Kākusthavarman gave to Srutakirti the field called Badovarakshetra which belonged to the holy Arhats. Mrgeśavarman, his grandson, granted certain specified fields for the purpose of cleaning the Jinālaya for worship, offering flowers and also for repairs. Jainism continued to prosper also under King Ravivarma, who built a Jaina temple at Pālasika (modern Halasi) in the Belgaum District. King Harivarman continued the tradition of his father and made generous donations and gifts to the worship of Jinendra and for the maintenance of the devotees".
The Calukyas of Bādāmi gave patronage to the Jainas by giving gifts of land to Jaina Temples. Ravikirti the famous Jaina writer, received high honour from Pulakeši Irs.
The Cālukya rulers, Vinayāditya, Vijayāditya and Vikramāditya, gave liberal donations to the Jaina temples. The sculptures and paintings used in Ellora and Ajanta were copied in the caves at Bādāmi for depicting the Jaina and Hindu deities. The Carvings of images of Jaina Tirthankaras and of Vişņu are found side by side in Bādāmi. The religious ideas and practices of earlier period continued to be practised during the Rāştrakūta period. Jainism received royal patronage in the reign of Nspatunga, who was himself a Jaina. It did not suffer influence during the Rāştrakūta period although there was, at a later stage, revival of Hindu influence. This was because the people were used to Jaina practices and Jainism was popular among them, and also because some Rāstrakūța generals were Jains. Bankeśa and his son Lokadiša were Viceroys at Banavāsi and they patronised Jainism".
The influence of eminent poets like Pampa and philosophers like Samantabhadra and Akala ñka was immense. People did not feel any difference between Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Any one could follow a religion and faith of his choice. During the Rāştrakūta period there was abundant Jaina philosophical literature
During Hoysala period Jainism was an influential force. In fact the Hoysalas owed much to the foresight and wisdom of the Jaina Ācāryās. The period between the 11th and 14th centuries was favourable for the propagation and glorification of the Jaina faith. Most of Hoysala kings were Jains and they patronised the Jaina temples and institutions. Jainism was a living faith for many