History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 88

Tattekere Basadi / 45
8.2
mences with an invocation to Vrsabha, the first spiritual victor and builder of the ford, speaks of the Caityabhavana of the adorable Arhata.In the end the charter gives a vivid picture of the hill-the best of mountains, purified by the presence of the Jinendra-caitya, a supreme tirtha (a sacred bathing place, 'place of a holy temple'), having caves suited for the residence of groups of greatrșis intent upon the performance of penance [Sharma : 1992. 204-05). "The main cave which is deeper has three units, one behind the other axially and is perhaps the Jinendra Chaitya or Chaitya bhavana referred to in the record cited above" (ibid, , p. 178). This cave has three cut-in chambers for the use of the frequenting Jaina friars. "The three cells, one behind the other, in reducing proportions, are fronted by an oblong open portico which after its appropriation of the place by the Vaishṇavites, was covered by screen walls of oblong granite slabs" (ibid, p. 178). "The middle cella is some what irregularly cut, though rectangular in shape, with a central stepped passage. This cell was in turn linked, through a narrow antarāla, to the third shrine at the further end. This end chamber is a neat rectangular one provided with a central cut-out pedestal or podium at the rear. This pedestal was meant for enshrining the Jina or served merely as a seat of the chief Achārya of the sangha to conduct discourses or observe penance. It appears that these age-old hallowed caverns associated with the moving Jaina ascetics have been bettered and enlarged for the Jaina fraternity sometime in early eighth century A.D by the Ganga kings, perhaps Śivamāra-I or his son Śripurusha as the characters of the inscribed record suggest" (ibid: 178]. Later, the Gangas built their Patta Jianālayas and Tirthada-basadis at Mandali Sāsira (EC. VII-i (BLR) Sh. 4. 1122. pp. 10-15] and at Talavanapura.