Jain Journal 1997 07

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

Page 24

KUMARI : KARNATAKA-TAMIL NADU JAINA RELATIONS
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Katavapra in Karnataka inspired the ascetics and lay followers from Tamil nadu also. A host of ascetics from Tamil Nadu poured into Sravana Belgola, specially during 7th and 8th centuries to ovserve the ritual of death on the Sepulchral hill. It is important that a good number among them were nuns. Mostly they hailed from Adiyara Rastra. Adeyara Rastra is identified by the scholars with the regions around Udayendaram near Vellore in the North Arcot District, an important habitat of the Jains.60
The large scale persecution of Jaina ascetics during 7th and 8th centuries in Tamil Nadu and subequent unfavourable developments must have encouraged the ascetics of this area to choose Katavapra in Karnataka, a peaceful aboode of death to observe the vow of sallekhana than on the natural cavalrons of Tamil Nadu.
T. Narasipur near Mysore. This inscription records the death of Candraprabha Muni by Sallekhana. (Pursuing Death, p. 241) Settar has also noticed references to various ritual terms in the inscription. The ascetics of Dravida Samgha appear to have been influential in the Western Chalukyan Court. This is reported in a number of records ranging from 10th to 11th centuries A.D. They, by and large, suggest the Jaina leaning of the Western Chalukyan rulers. King Tailapadeva, son of Satyasraya Irava Bedenga ruled from 997-1009 A.D. His Jaina preceptor was Vimala Candra Panditadeva, who himself was the disciple of Traikalamuni Bhattāraka of the Dravida Samgha of the Pustakagachcha. Medieval Jainism, pp. 42-43.
During the reign of Jayasimha III (1018-1042) there lived a galaxy of Jaina ascetics of high repute. The most prolific among them was Vadiraja and he belonged to the Dravida Samgha, Nandi Samgha of the Arunkalanvaya. (Ibid.) One Vādibha Simha Ajita Sena Pandita belonging to the Dravida Samgha of the Arunkalanvaya is referred to the Tirthahalli inscription in Shimoga District. (E.C.No. VIII. 192. (Ti). The Ingalgi inscription dated 1094 A.D. in the Gulbarga Dirstrict refers to Indrasena Bhattāraka of the Dravida Samgha. His Guru was Mallisena Bhattāraka of Malanura lineage of the Dravida Samgha. It is important to note that the ascetics of this monastic order are mentioned as the hereditary gurus of Jakkaladevi's family.Jakkaladevi was the queen of the Chalukyan King Vikramāditya VI. Indrasena Bhattāraka is mentioned as her preceptor. Jainism in South India, pp. 229-20. The nagar inscription speaks about Srivijaya Bhattāraka also known as Pandita Pārijāta, who was proficient in all the śāstras and Agamas. He is said to have belonged to the Nandi Gana of the Arunkalanvaya of the Nidambare Tirtha of the Tiyangudi. He was also the preceptor of Rakkasa Ganga, the grand father of Chattaladevi and of Biradeva and Nanni