History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 47

4/Ganga Monarchy & Jainism
the genealogical account of ancestors of the Gangas, wild surmises have played their role, only to complicate the issue and suspect the true history. But, immediately after the introduction of Ganga Perūr and Dadiga -Madhava appearing on the scene, the narration falls in line with the actual historical genealogy of their migration to Karnataka. It is said and reiterated in some medieval epigraphs, that the great monk of monks Simhanandi Acārya was the promoter of the Ganga dynasty. "The very foundation of the dynasty was due to a great Jaina Achārya, Simhanandi who, according to the legendary accounts, bestowed everything, including the lāñchanas, army and Gangavādi 96,000" (Sharma : 1992 : 6]. Historians have regarded this statement as credible. [Saletore B.A.: 1938: 10-16, 92-93; Krishna Rao, M.V. : 1936, 1A. vii p. 107 Srikanta Sastry. S: 1952, Sharma, I.K.: 1992, Kannada Inscriptions of Andra Pradesh (1961), No. 72 C.E. 1008 etc,). Brahmasiva a Kannada poet (C.E. 1175), has mentioned in his classic work Samaya Parikse, that Simhanandi Acārya was the promoter of the Ganga kingdom (2-80,81). Another poet Abhayacandra (14th cent.) has categorically reiterated in his commentary on the Gommațasāra that the adept Simhanandi founded
the Ganga kingdom.. 1.6.1 It seems that the Gangas had the guidance of their first
preceptor Simhanandin, while they were still in Perūr [AP: Cuddaph dt/Siddhavat tk), which is rightly considered as the Ganga Perūr, for it is connected with the foundation of the Ganga kingdom. "Simhanandin helped Dadiga and Mādhava to establish a kingdom near Perūr” [Sastry S. Srikantha:Sources of Karnataka History: 1940 : "Intro". XXXIII]. Perūr, an abode of the Simhanandin, was a great place in the early history of Jainism in Andhradesa and Karnataka, was originally a hoary Jaina