Jain Journal 1972 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 60

198
Besides these records, we have caves at Badami (c. 650 A.D.) with images of Tirthankaras, those at Aihole (c. 700 A.D.) with the figure of Mahavira and other Jaina symbols like makaras and dvarapalas, the caves of Dharasiva (c. 600-650 A.D.) in the Hyderabad State, with Tirthankara images-all these reveal a prosperous condition of Jainism in the Deccan in the 7th century A.D.
JAIN JOURNAL
Under the Rastrakutas whose different branches ruled in Gujarat, Rajputana and the Deccan, we have a flourishing state of Jainism, as some of the kings of this dynasty were devout Jainas themselves. For instance, Amoghavarsa had great leanings towards Jainism, which is evidenced by the fact that Jinasena, the writer of Adipuraṇa, was his preceptor. Moreover a certain Jaina mathematician called Mahaviracarya, the writer of Ganitasärasangraha, who was a contemporary of Amoghavarsa, calls him as the follower of syadvāda. Amoghavarsa seems to have granted land for a jinālaya at the request of his subordinate Bankesa. "It would seem that he was often putting his Yuvaraja or the ministry in charge of the administration, in order to pass some days in retirement and contemplation in the company of his Jaina gurus.'
Krsna II, another king of Rastrakutas, had Gunabhadra, the compiler of the last five chapters of Adipurāṇa, as his preceptor. The same king gave a grant to the Jaina temple at Mulgund.
Indra III, the successor of Krsna II, was also a patron of Jainism, as is evidenced by his building a stone pedestal for the bathing ceremony of Santinatha.
The last king of the dynasty, Indra IV, is said to have accepted death in the typically Jaina fashion called sailekhaṇā (i.e., fast unto death).
Besides these, we come across other kings in this dynasty who were influenced by Jaina tenets. For instance, the Kadaba copper plate dated S. 735, says that king Prabhutavarsa (i.e., Govinda III) on the request of one Cakiraja, granted the village of Jalamangala to a Jaina monk Arkakirti on behalf of the temple of Jinendra at Silagrama, in remuneration for his having warded off the evil influence of Saturn from Vimaladitya, the governor of Kunugil District.
Even the feudatories of the Rastrakutas were influenced by Jainism inasmuch as the Rattas of Saundatti, Bankeya the governor of Banavasi and his son Srivijaya, a general of Indra III-all these were patrons of Jainism.