Jain Journal 2000 01

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

Page 39

HAMPA : THE GANGA MONARCHY AND JAINISM
151
life. She died at Koppala, accepting the vow of sallekhanā, death with equanimity. Padmāvati alias Padmabbarasi, the elder wife of Būtuga, reached Koppala, and amidst applause and appreciation of all around, accepted the ritual death by fasting. Maladhārideva, an ascetic of integrity, conqueror of all desires, administered the ritual. Padmabbarasi, while still in meditation, died on 3-12-973. She had built a Jaina temple at Naregal and made it rich and famous. She has been eulogised as the Kali-kāla pratyakṣa Gouri, goddess Pārvati of the present age.
Kallabbā, a younger wife of Būtuga, was renowned for her devotion to Jainism. The effects of her zeal for her religion has been extolled in the inscriptions. Dīvalambā, the youngest of Būtuga's consorts, had commissioned a Jaina temple at Sūdi and her spouse Būtuga had made donation of land in C.E. 938.
Bütuga's two daughters, Kundaņasomidevī and Bijjāmbarasi, dedicated their lives to serve Nirgrantha church. They conscientiously performed the four-fold charities of āhāra, abbhaya, bhaisajya and sāstra dānas. Kundanasõmidēvi pioneered the cause of supporting Jainism of unparalleled magnitude. She founded a Manikya-jinabimba in bronze, in C.E. 970. She breathed her last at Koppala by courting death by abstinence from food. Kundanasõmidevi was the first poetess of Karnataka. Her accomplishments in learning and fine arts, her patronage to the erudite, deep devotion to Jinadharma, her knowledge of Jaina doctrine-are applauded in the inscriptions. Koppala inscription has the following benediction : with the death of people like Kundanasāmidēvi, kind words of charitable disposition like bounteousness and righteousness, vanished from the world.
Mārasimha-II, Būtuga's second son, was one of the greatest persons of the period. He was Duke of Gangavādi territory. Inscriptions eulogise his generosity to protect Jainism. He had constructed basadis at Puligere, Hunugunda and other places, erected mānastambhas and endowed Jaina places of worship at Naregal, Puligere, Annigere and other towns. Mārasimha was mainly responsible for the glory of the Rāstrakūta dynasty. But when he failed in his mission in C.E. 974, Mārasimha willingly submitted himself to the inevitable death. He accepted the rite of sallekhana at the feet of his preceptor the adept Ajitasēnācārya, royal patriarch of the Ganga dynasty
Cāmundarāya (Rāya, Anna) who had a number of titles, a wise minister and a brave warrior of many decisive battles, erected the huge 58' monolith colossus of Gommața at the crest of larger hill at Sravanabelagola. His service to Jainism is multifacet. He founded Cāmundarāya basadi on the smaller hill at Belagola, on top of it