Jain Journal 2007 01

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

Page 28

Ilampa Nagarajaiah: Imprints of Buddhism in karṇatala
extant Aśokan edicts belong of Banavāsi. An inscription going around the Naga image in the Madhukeśvara temple comlex at Banavāsi, datable to mid 2nd century CE, in the Prakrit language and Brahmi character, states that Sivaskanda Nāgasiri, daughter of Satakarni of Cutukula and consort of Mahābhoja, donated an image of Naga,' serpent', a tank, and a vihara under the supervision of Amatya Khaḍasati (Skandasvāti). The Nāga sculpture was chisseled by Nataka, a desciple of Acarya Damoraka, precepter of Banavāsi vihāra. An inscribed stone column, commemorative of Vasithiputra Sivasiri Puluvāvi, containing a two lined Brahmi inscription which opens with the auspicious word siddham, is preserved in the Museum at Banavāsi.
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While about 20 and 12 grants of the Kadamba kings are of Brahimanical and Jaina affiliation respectively, only two inscriptions mention Bauddha Siddhāyatana and Arya saṁgha. The copper plate of Citrasena Mahakella (CE 485), feudatory of Ravivarma, the Kadamba chief, opens with an invocation to Buddha, and records Citrasena's gift of land along with a garden to Arya samgha [Corpus of Kadamba Inscriptions, (ed) B.R.Gopal; 1985: No. 26: pp. 102-04
Siddham jayatyamita guṇabhrid Buddhassattva samāśrayaḥ Śuddhodana kulodbhūtaḥ padmapatra nibhekshṣṇaḥ//
[Be it well. Victorious is the Buddha, of infinite qualities, refuge of virtues, born in the family of Suddhodana].
Amongst the early extant vestiges of Buddhism in the state, the caves at Aihole and Bādāmi arc important and unique. The large enthroned image, carved upon the cliff-face to the south-east of the lake locally known as the Agasthya Tirtha, called Koṣṭharaya, 'leper king', in popular parlance, has a legend associated with it. Albeit, the image is of Mayamoha of the Buddhavatara of Lord Viṣṇu, and the sculpture could be dated to late 7th century CE. This figure confirms that Buddha was assimilated into the Hindu mythology as an