History of Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 98

Conclusion/55
olim dānaśālas feeding houses, attached to them where free meals were available for the pilgrims and students alike. "The Jaina temple, originally founded in the mid tenth century by the famous Jaina noble Ganga Perumānadi, was burnt down by the Coļas as stated in the inscription of A. D. 1071. Of this early building only the fragments of theşadanga-vedibhadra upapitha and the kopatabandha adhisthana still remain at the totally renovated, now plain and white-washed, east facade. The other notable surviving piece of that period at this temple is the pair of hasti-hasta-banisters of great beauty preserved at the eastern stair way of the closed hall. They show a gajākrānta-simha in the profile with fine gandharva figures in the vine-loops above that motif. From the mouth of the lion emerges a massive but gracefully curving and vivid looking nodular liana-stem. These hasti-hasta slabs are among the few most beautiful instances of the medieval sculptural decorative art of Karnataka" [Dhaky (ed)
: 1996 :82, ibid, plates No. 213 and 214] 12.3 Succeeding ages will reverence the Gangas memory. The
Ganga's contribution to the Jaina iconography, art, architecture, and literature is unparalleled. They provided the basic infrastructure of a Jaina base, inspired the Bādāmi Cālukyas and the Cālukyas of Kalyāņa, the early Kadambas of Banavāsi and the Rāstrakūtas in particular, to openly identify with the cause of Jainism. Further, thanks to the Gangas, many of the minor royal dynasties felt it a prestige to associate themselves with the Nirgrantha creed; The Kalacuris, Hoysaļas, Seuņas, Senavāras, Sendrakas, Sindas, Sāntaras of Homuja, Saundatti Rattas, Mandali-sāsira, Cengālvas, Kongāļvas, Nāgarkahanda-70 and Jidduļige-70, Silāhāras (of Ankulage, Elemela, Kolhāpura, Bāsavura, Tardavādi and Teradāļa), Sāļuvas of Gerasoppa, petty princes of Tuļunādu (Ajilas, Cautas, Bangaru), Biļagi kings and some