Jain Journal 2003 01

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

Page 31

158
JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVII, NO. 3 JAN 2003
built at Puligere, modern Laksmeśvara in 950. This house of worship was renovated in 1065 by Bhuvanaikamalla, and was once again richly endowed with additional donations by Jayakesi of the Manalera family, in 1074, Jayaduttaranga Permmādi Būtuga caused to be made a Jinendra Mandira in 961 at Annigere. Later this place of worship received further grants by the Cālukyas in 1071-72.
The eldest son of Būtuga, prince Marul a who had the epithet of Puņiseya Ganga, had married Bijjabbe, daughter of Krşņa-III, the Rāştrakūţa emperor. Marul adeva alias Arumolideva had a number of titles : Ganga Mārtanda, Ganga Cakrāyudha, Kāmada (which his grand father Ereyappa had also possessed), Kaliyuga Bhima and Kīrtimanobhava. As a special and extraordinary marriage gift, the Rāştrakūța monarch and his father-in-law had honoured with Marul a Madanāvatāra, a unique parasol. As Yuvarāja, heir apparent, Marul a succeeded to the Gan ga throne in 961, but soon died a premature death in 963.
The valiant Mārasimha (963-73) succeeded Maruladeva. Krşņa, the Rāştrakūta Bādshah, attended the coronation and crowned Mārasimha as the Duke of Gangavādi. Mārasimha reciprocated his allegiance to his overlord and immediately swung into action by waging very successful battles in the North, to conquer Asvapati of Gūrjararājya. Mārasimha was befittingly rewarded with the biruda Gurjararāja. The word Gurjar, the original home of the Pratihāras, had Bhillmāl and Jālore as its centre. Gurjara implies geographical territory and not any caste or clan. Gurjaradeśa had included parts of both Gujarat and Rājasthan. First it came under the sway of the Rāştrakūtas and later the Cālukyas of Kalyana. It was during the expedition under the leadership of Mārasimha that the Zura inscription was installed. The death of Mārasimha created a vacuum in the royal house of the Gangas. The later Gangas had only the nostalgic memories of the good old days of pomp and splendour, of the reign of Būtuga and Mārasimha.
Būtuga, like his father Ereyappa, was 'a bee at the pair of the lotus feet of the adorable Arhat'. He was himself a cognoscente of Jaina canonical literature. Inscriptions bear ample testimony to the continued prominence and popularity of Jaina Order in this epoch. He heralded a significant contribution to the socio-cultural and literary heritage by producing a vast body of learned works on varied subjects in the language of the people. The art and architecture patronised by Būtuga,