Jain Journal 1997 07

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

Page 25

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JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXII, No. 1. July 1997
Patra Kesari
“By his devotion Guru Patra Kesari made yaksi Padmavati to become his helpmate when he successfully refuted the Trilokshana theory." Thus Patra Kesari is introduced in the Mallisena Prasasti inscription of SravanaBelgola dated 1050 A.D.61 His name also appears in the Belur inscriptions dated 1136 A.D.62 This inscription which provides the list of the ācāryas of Dravida Samgha places him prior to Vajranandi ācārya who is presumed to have been the founder of Dravida Samgha at Madurai, setting aside the controversies, it is evident from the above sources that Patra Kesari was a prominent ascetic of Karnataka who was actively involved in the proselytising activity in Tamil Nadu also.63 K. Bujabala Sastri places him to 7th century A.D. It is generally believed that he entered the Jaina monastic order influenced by the Devayana Stotra of Samanta Bhadrācārya.
Jinasenācārya
Jinasenācārya the author of Harivamsa Purana is prolific among the ācāryas of the Panatra Samgha.64 Panatra was an ancient kingdom of Karnataka comprising South-Western part of Mysore. Kittur or Kirtipura was its captial. Kirtipura is identified with a village bearing the name Kittur in Heggadadevana Kote Taluk of Mysore District.65 Combattore region of Tamil Nadu is believed to have been included in the Panatra Vishaya. 66
Santara, the Santara kings of Humcha. It is relevant here to state that Chattaladevi was the queen of the Pallaba King Kaduvatti of Tamil Nadu. Having lost her husband and son Goggi, she attached herself to the four sons of her younger sister who was married to the Santara King who also had died. E.C. Vol. VIII Nos : 35, 40 (nagar). Srivijaya also knwn as Vadibhasimha alias Odeya-deva alias Muñjarāya was also the preceptor of the Ganga ruler Mārasimha III (963-974) and was very influential in the court of Rastrakuta King Krishna III. It is stated that his knowledge of politics was highly respected by Krishna III who earned same for his conquests by following the principles taught by his great teacher Munjarāya. History of the Western Gangas. p. 289. In addition to the above, two more inscriptions at Siyamangalam in the North Arcot region of Tamil Nadu contain reference to Arunkalanvaya of Dravida Samgha. Of the two, one is dated 892 A.D. and the other in the character of 10th century A.D. It is significant that the latter begins with an exaltation to the Arunkalanvaya of the Dravida Samgha and Nandi Samgha. This record also pays obeisance to one Vajranandi Yogindar the Mandalācārya of Dravida Samgha of Arunkalanvaya, who is said to have built flights of steps. J.I.T.No. 319-320.