Jain Journal 1999 07

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

Page 47

NAGARAJAIAH : VIKRAMADITYA VI AND JAINISM
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forward in the history of Jainism. The other contemporary religions that also flourished along side Jaina creed, were not diametrically opposed philosophies, in spite of their dogmatic differences; in fact, some of them were complimentary to each other.
47.2 Vikramāditya's reign has been rendered memorable by the glorious all-round activities of the Nirgrantha church; as observed early in this paper, the king was tolerant towards all sects, but he was particularly interested in Jinadharmma. He fostered the cause of Jainism so prominently that the marvellous period of the Gangas had its second birth. He took a direct and active part in the spread of Jainism, extended royal umbrella and raised its status. He did not pay merely a lip sympathy to the Nirgranthamata is evident and proved beyond doubt by the reliable account of the contemporary charters which established him as a lay votary of Jainism.
47.3 A good number of inscriptions prove to be sufficient evidence of the flourishing condition of Jainism under the aegis of Cālukyas of Kalyāna. But of all its kings, it is Vikramāditya who did his best, in quality and quantity, to establish the indigenous Jaina religion firm in Karnātaka and also elevate its position in his reign. As a consequence, Jainism had an overwhelming influence in the royal court, and a hold over the country in that period.
48.1 The emperor had accorded royal patronage to the activities of the learned monks and nuns. Imperial support and popular backup provided an opportunity to Jain seers to establish centres of learning, monasteries, śrta-bhandaras and basadis, where vigorous cultural activities were carried on to build up a solid organisation of Jaina laymen. Cālukya kingdom had become an abode of safety for Jaina monks, who were successfull in mustering the respect of the palace and the allegiance of the most important section of the middle classes, the commercial sects.
48.2 The Jain saints, the pontiffs and partriarchs, the friars and nuns, as depicted in the inscriptions of this period, are known for their celibacy, strict moral and physical discipline, zeal for study who went in search of a good teacher for the sake of obtaining better knowledge in the canonical literature.
48.3 Idol worship was firmly established among the Jains, as far back as second century B.C. In Karņāțaka, during the reign of Vikki also, the Jaina ascetics encouraged the laics to cause images and temples of Jina; as such there were many basadis throughout the length and breadth of the Cālukya kingdom in this period; the pulse