History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 95

52/Ganga Monarchy & Jainism
the Gangas at Kellangere, Bankāpura, Koppala and other places, which had passed into political limbo. He not only caused the timely repairs of the Ganga temples but also enhanced the status of the old basadis. As already noticed, the name of Hullapa is clubbed among the other major promoters of Jina creed. Raya, the excellent minister of king Racamalla and Gangana, praised by the learned as the excellent minister cum general of king Viṣṇuvardhana. Delighting in restoration of basadis, in assemblies for Jina worship, in gifts to groups of Jaina ascetics, in hearing holy Jina purāņas, the general Hulla, passed his time every day [EC. II. (R). 476 (345). 1159. p. 289].
11.4 Of course, there were many more luminaries, both men and women, in the Ganga dynasty, who perpetuated the cause of Jinadharma. Evidence regarding sustained efforts of such stalwarts like Avinita, Durvinita, Būtuga, Mārasimha, Maruladeva and thier consorts for the resurrection of Jainism is clearly discernible in the contemporary epigraphs. Eṛegangadeva was ever meditating at the feet of Arhat, and his son Būtuga-I was a devout Jaina. 11.4.1 Hulla erected a Jaina temple, splendid from the base to the pinnacle, in the original holy place of Kellangere, formerly founded by the Gangas and praised by many [ibid]. Kellangere, reputed as an Adi-tirtha, was a premier Jaina place of pilgrimage from ancient times [Nagarajaiah, Hampa: 1998-c]. Jainas looked after Kellangere as a holy place of excellence [EC. IX (R). BI. 388 (V BI 123). C.E. 954. Bastihalli (Hn. dt/Bl. tk)p. 352]. Trikūṭa Ratnatraya basadi, a Ganga construction at Kellangere was the chief temple [ibid, Bl 323 (XV. BI 343) p. 306]. Some of the preceptors of the Ganga kings, including Bütuga are listed in the inscription from Kellangere [ibid, Bl. 388. p. 352].
The Niśidhis
11.5 On par with basadis, the nisidhis of the Ganga period