History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

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Introduction
1.1 Within the vast cultural mosaic of South Asian way of
living, Jainism, a non-Vedic religion, has been functioning in the Indian sub-continent for many millenia. As a religion, also, it has survived despite several opposing forces. Among many royal families of southern India particularly in Karnataka, it was the Gangas who extended lavish support to Jainism for a long span of nearly eight hundered years. "Many of the early Western Ganga monarchs were followers of Jainism, and also it found patronage under the Eastern Cālukyas. Amma II (mid tenth century) built two Jinālayas and established satras (feeding houses) attached to them, where Sramanas (Jaina monks) of all four castes were to be fed "[Sastry, K.A.N; 1958:426). A careful study of the epigraphs reveals that even the later Western Ganga monarchs were also ar
dent followers of Jainism. 1.2 Śramaņa movement laid stress upon the superiority of
the princely class (ksatriyas), many royal families zealously took to the Nirgrantha faith. A cardinal, though paradoxical, feature of Jainism is that it openly accepted and encourged the primary duty of the ksatriyas of defending their domains. The lay-adherent were given the option of countering an armed adversary in kind, with the reminder that it behooved a Jaina not to be the first to strike. Although they never hesitated to wage wars, they were constantly in touch with tenets of Jainism and
the preceptors. 1.3 Therefore, the Jaina monarchs were not so rigid in ob
serving the non-injury doctrine. They could wage war,