History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 90

Tippūru Basadi / 47
Permānadi-II (904-19) on the Kanakagiri-tirtha [EC. VII (R) Mu-100. p. 312; Sheik Ali: 1976: 18; Sharma 1992: 180). The entire revenue of the village Tippeyūr, without any hindrance, was endowed to Kanakasena Bhatāra, the local abbot of Kanakagiri-tirtha (Jinagudda), in the very presence of the Ganga king. Evidently, this Maņaleyara is different and elder at least by four decades to the famous Maņaleyara of Atakūr, which is also a nearby place to Tippūru (EI. 11-pp. 171-72; Nagarajaiah, Hampa: 1995: 46-50]. This Tippūru-tirtha grew from strength to strength and reached its apogee of greater patronage and recongition by the illustrious general Gangarāja during Hoysala Vişnuvardhana's time (EC. VII (R). Mn. 54, pp. 282-84). A vast array of very impressive Jaina vestiges scattered in and around the village Tippūru reflect the past [Sharma, I.K;1992;178-85, contains a graphic, crystallised description of the place based on an extensive field work]. "Among these, a seated Supārsvanatha in dhyāna with a five-hooded snake protecting the head, appears to be the earliest. The coils and the hood look more realistic than conventional, Shown in deep meditation, the right palm in the left (H.D. Sankalia is of the opinion that this is a characteristic of Svetāmbara Jinas, but all the seated Jinas in this area are of this Ganganvāời type only) the image appears to have been originally placed on a lion throne within the sanctuary and flanked by chouri-bearers. The youthful sturdy body, wide eye lashes, hair-do, like the peal of a custard apple, make the example of a fine product of Ganga art" (ibid., 185). "The rock-cut vestiges, the pond, the Supārsvanātha images, the standing one and the seated, of the Kulgere chouri-bearers, should be assigned to an earlier date, that is between the last quarter of eight and first quarter of 9th centurey A.D. and inscriptional evidence corroborates these architectural and sculptural vestiges" [:185). "The