History of Rastrakutas of Malkhed and Jainism

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 82

The Rāstrakūtas Monarchs - B/21
as : madiyo vitata jyotirnisito sirivāparah "like another scintillating sharp sword of mine". As commander of the hereditary forces, Bankēśa has uprooted, like trees, my adversaries. By my favour he has received and rules the thirty-thousand villages of which Vanavāsi is the foremost, never ceasing to prosper. At the request of this my dear servant Bankeya, I have given the village of Taleyūra to Dēvēndra, who has been appointed to take care of the Jaina sanctuary founded by Barkeya. Devendra, chief of ascetics, disciple of Trikālayõgisa, born from the Pustaka gaccha of the Desiyagana of the Mülasangha, for any new work connected with the sanctuary, for future repairs, for the cleaning, plastering, maintaing of it, and for other acts of piety (boundaries stipulated). I also have given twelve nivartanas of land at Kalanūra itself and at each of the following thirty villages within its bhukti (names of the 30 villages mentioned)" (EI. VI. No. 4. pp. 24-38). This cakravartidatti, endowment of the emperor, replete with historical significance, was authored by Vatsarāja, a bard of eminence and trained in Jaina tradition.
2.2. Amöghavarsa, the Aśõka of Jaina sangha, worked for the spread of śramaņa culture. “During the reign of Amõghavarşa-I special activity was displayed in temple building, particularly Jaina ones, as he was a great patron of that sect, if, indeed he was not a convert to that religion. Jainism was at the zenith of prosperity during his long reign. He became so religiously inclined that he is said to have eventually abdicated the throne 'in consequence of the growth of the ascetic spirit in him', and several religious works are attributed to him' [Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. I. part-II, p.201): "His son, who succeeded him, was Akālavarsha or Krishņa-II during whose reign there is mention of Jaina temples being built and grants being alloted to them" (ibid: 10).