Jain Journal 2007 01

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

Page 27

IMPRINTS OF BUDDHISM IN KARŅĀTALA
Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah
Jainism and Buddhism represent the earliest phase of Indian religions. It is believed that both these two contemporary religions reached the Deccan from north. Contrarily Jainism appears to have been a local or even an indigenous religion in the south. However, this paper is not interested in entering into the realm of controversy.
According to the Mahāvansa and Dipavamsa, the Pāli texts from Ceyion, immediately after the 3rd convention at Pāțaliputra under the guidance of Thera Moggaliputra, emperor Asoka had sent monk Mahādevathera to Mahișamandala, modern Mysore, and monk Thera Rakkhita to Vanavāsi, modern Banavāsi in Karņāțaka. The rock edicts of Asoka and other corroborative epigraphical and literary evidences establish that Buddhism entered Karņāțaka in around 3rd century BCE. Since then Buddhism spread as a sect with considerable elite votaries, in the early centuries of current era.
Buddhism flourished as a noteworthy religion with the good will of the Satavāhana and Bana rulers, Buddhism gained royal shelter. Interestingly, a Bāņa king is described as “Bodhisattva in compassion to animals' [Epigraphia Carnatica vol. x. Mulabagil. No.15.CE.338). The Early Kadambas of Banavāsi and early Gangas, the two coeval royal dynasties, patronized Buddhism. A charter of Tadangala Mādhava (456-75), the Ganga chief, states that he gifted lands to a Buddhist monastery [Epigraphia Carnatica. vol. XII. Tumkur No.9. circa 5th century CE]. Curiously, while stipulating the boundaries of the gifted land, the word Sākyasilā, stone of Sākya (Buddha)', figuring in the charter, is meaningful.
Probably, in the early phase, it was monk Rakkhita who had created a favourable infrastructure, though surprisingly none of the