Jain Journal 2003 07

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

Page 20

HAMPA NAGARAJAIH: EPIGRAPHIA JAINIKA
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decreased. All this we can see, measure and know. What is far more difficult to make sense of in any given case, let alone for the vastly varied world of late medieval South Asia - are the political and social meanings of these cultural transformations'. [ibid; 54]
This account must be regarded as having a considerable amount of truth behind the claim. The rulers of Karnataka, both major and minor dynasties, have consciously promoted religion and culture, thereby incorporating into their kingdom a large variety of cults and religious traditions, which explains the wealth of religious tolerance and imagery, found in the inumerable monuments and epigraphs. It is this rich intermixture of sacred and secular outlook that is singular to Jaina inscription, also relevant to all times.
Fairly a good number of new Jaina inscriptions, not included in the published epigraphical volumes, are included in this corpus. While an attempt is made, in brief, to discuss and higlight the wide ranging scope of the information that the corpus replenish. Thus, attention of the scholar-historians is drawn to take up the relevant issues.
There are a few other epigraphs which, because of their mutilated conditions and for certain otehr erasons, cannot be ascribed to any specific ruling dynasty or assigned to any particular period. Sometimes it becomes difficult to group the epigraphs either regionwise or religionwise or otherwise. Under such circumstances I have bracketed the doubtful ones in the miscellaneous heading.
1.
Jaina epigraphs are invaluable for various reasons : They belong to an important phase in the history of Karnataka and of the Deccan as a whole.
The add new material for the study of the different aspects of history, culture, religion, and language of the period and region. Many Jaina edicts are thoroughly infused with the idiom, intelligence and socio-political imagination. They supply useful material for the linguistic study:
4.