Jain Journal 1994 07

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

Page 27

DANACHINTAMANI ATTIMOBBE - AN APPRAISAL
Vasantha Kumari Though, during the Western Chalukyan period, Jainism ceased to continue as the professed religion of the rulers, as it was under the Gangas, Rastrakutas and the Hoysalas, it was still outgoing as a conquering faith attracting many followers. Jainism attained strength and grew stronger, on account of the unstinted support provided by the noble Jaina families, and, specially, the patronage of the rulers who were favourably disposed towards Jainism. A number of epigraphical records attest and illustrate the progressive ascendency that Jainism had attained in the Chalukyan territory.
The Lakkundi inscription illustrates the achievements of two, martial, Jaina families, their contributions to the rise of the Chalukyas to power, and Jaina cultural ascendency. It also contains full details of the accomplishments of Attimobbe, a highly esteemed and distinguished personality in the Jaina history of med nataka. The discovery of the Lakkundi record was made by Dr. T.N. Srikantaiah, who in 1945, brought to light, by his own efforts, two records lying inside the complex of Attimobbe's basadi at Lakkundi. The contents of these records are more or less the same. However, the original record has been largely effaced and broken into pieces; it is dated 1007 A.D.' Another record of the original also supplies additional information throwing light on the destruction and fatalities which the Brahma Jinalaya, the splendid basadi, built by Attimobbe at Lakkundi, suffered during the subsequent years. It is believed that this inscription was recomposed after two centuries.4 The record is bilingual, elaborate and contains 88 stanzas, composed in beautiful Kanda and Vritta styles. The later dated inscription was composed by one Bahubali, who was proficient in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages; according to this record, he was the son of Siripala, who caused the Attimobbe basadi to be reno
1. SII, Vol. XI, No. 52. 2. Ti. Nam. Srikantaiah (Ed.) Samalokana, pp. 150. 204. 3. SII, Vol. XI, No. 53. 4. Ibid., 52 5. Ibid.