________________
his sallekhana. Butaga II and his wife gave some grants to build a Janalaya. The Kudlur inscription describes Butaga as a great Jaina philosopher who defeated the Bauddhas in religious debate. The same inscription also mentions Marasimha III as a great Jaina. He is described therein as the maintainer of Jaina doctrines and to have erected basadis and manastambhas at various places. He relinquished his throne, and keeping the vow of Sallekhana for three days in the holy presence of Ajitabhattaraka, he died at Bankapura.
Rachamalla IV and minister Cavundaraya are justly famous in the history of Karnataka and Jainism as great patrons of art and literature.
The Calukyas of Badami also extended patronage to Jainism. The Jaina cave at Badami built by Mangalesa is an important one. The Jinalaya of Meguti at Aihole and Ravikirti are also important. The temple at Laxmesvara built by queen Kumkumadevi is also well known. During the period of Kirtivarma II, Kaliyamma built a Jinalaya at Annigeri. Sendraka Durgasakti, a vassal of Pulikesi II donated some lands to Sankajinalaya at Puligere. King Vinayaditya made a land gift to a Jaina ascetic of Mulasangha and Devagana. Vijayaditya gave away the village Seribaluru near Laxmesvar to Jayadeva Pandita for worship at Sankajinalaya. Vikramaditya II registers a gift of land for Jaina worship when he camped at Raktapura.
The Rashtrakutas:
Altekar characterizes the age of the Rashtrakutas as the most flourishing periods in the history of Jainism in Deccan. This is amply demonstrated by a very large number of grants to Jaina. temples during the period. Among the Rastrakuta Kings, Amoghavarsa was very well noted Jaina King. Jinasena gives the impression that Amoghavarsa used to consider himself purified by the very remembrance of that paramaguru. The King is also described as the great follower of that paramaguru. The King
Ca
Jain Education International
119
is also described as the follower of Syadvada. He had appointed Gumabhadra as the teacher for his son Krisna. Krisna gave some donations to a Jaina temple at Mulund. Indra III caused to be made a pedestal for the abhiseka of Santinatha. Indra IV committed Sallekhana and died.
Many of the feudatories and officers of the astrakutas were Jains. The Rattas of Samundatti were staunch supporters of Jainism. Bankey the Governor of Banavasi, his son Lokasditya were devout Jainas. Srivijaya, a general Indira III was also a Jaina. There were
many literary luminaries during this period. Altekar estimates that at least one-third of the total population of the Deccan during this period was Jainas. Calukyas of Kalyana
The Calukyas Kings of Kalyana were the patrons of all the major religions of the times. Hence, Jainism also found its share during the period. Jaina records of the period are found in southern districts of Maharastra and Karnataka. Taila, the founder of the Calukya dynasty of Kalyana is well-known as the patron of the great poet Ranna. Satyasraya had a Rajaguru Vimalacandrapandita deva, a great jaina teacher sitting under whose feel the King Learnt the tenets of Jaina faith. Attimabbe was a well-known lady of this period. She was known as Danachiatamani. She constructed many basadis of which the one at Lokkigundi deserves special mention. The king gave a golden Kalasa for this temple. Santinatha, a great minister under Somesvara II was a devout Jaina. He is said to have persuaded Lakhmana to build the Mallikamoda Santinatha basadi at Balingrama.
Mahasamanta Santivarma, a feudatory of Taila li, not only created a Jaina temple at Sungandhavanti, but also made generous donations for its maintenance. His mother Nijiyabbe also made some grants which were received by Bahubali Bhattaraka. This Bhattaraka is described in many of the contemporary
records as a great Jaina teacher with a big following. The Rattas of Saundatti who were the feudatories of the Calukyas were great patrons of Jainism. The Hoysalas
The Hoysalas have been traditionally connected with Jainism since their origin. Sudatta and Munindra are described in inscriptions as being responsible for the foundation of the Hoysala dynasty. Further the hero, Sala himself was a Jaina. Thus the very early rules is said to have built a large number of Jaina Shrines. Ereyanga was a devout Jaina. He is said to have made many grants at Belagola for worship, for food, vessels and clothes and he mentions Panditadeva Gopanandi of the Kondakundanvaya.
The rule of Visnuvardhana or Bittideva can be considered as the golden age of Jainism during the Hoysala period. The conversion of Bittideva into Vaisanavism and thereafter being inimical to the Jainas is not supported by modern historical research. On the contrary, epigraphical references of the time of Visnuvardhana prove beyond doubt that he showed great respect for Jainism and patronized it. His own queen Shantaladevi is described as the jewel of Jainism. Her parents Marasinga and Machikabbe were Jains. She is described to have learnt the precepts of Jainism from the guru Prabhachandra Siddhantadeva. She built the Santisvara Ganghavarna basadi and presented it to her guru Prabhacandra. She made many more grants in other parts of the Kingdom. According to the Belur inscription, Visnuvardhana not only received the Prasadam brought from the priests of a Jainalaya, but also made proper arrangements for the provision of performance of ceremonies at the Jinalaya of Vijaya parsva and twenty four tirthankaras. Many of the able generals and ministers of Visnuvardhana were devout Jains. Mariyane Dandanayska, Punisa, Boppa, Bittiyanna and Gangaraja may be mentioned as more impor
"Animals are dumb and therefore they cannot adequately express their pain or suffering. It is the duty of man not only show sympathy and compassion to animals but also to treat them as his equals."
7TH BIENNIAL JAINA CONVENTION - JULY 1993 For Private & Personal Use Only
-R. Krishnan
www.jainelibrary.org
