Jaina Art and Architecture Vol 01

Author(s): A Ghosh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 51

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THE EXPANSION OF JAINISM to hold its own under tho Yadavas (1187-1318). Similar was the case under the Silabáras, as some of the inscriptions from Kolhapur indicate.
That Jainism was in practice within the Eastern Calukya kingdom (6241271) is evidencod by a few grants mentioning donations to Jaina ascetics. Venkataramanayya observes: "The Jaina monks were very active. The deserted images met with in the ruined village sites all over the country show that the Jaina settlemonts were numerous... Several inscriptions of the Eastern Calukya monarchs and their subjects record the construction of Basadis and temples, and register the gift of land and money for their maintenance.'s
Similar was the case with the Hoysalas (1106-1343). The very origin of this dynasty is attributed to a Jaina sage. It is stated that one Gopanandin 'caused the Jaina religion, which had for a long time been at a standstill, to attain the prosperity and fame of the time of the Ganga kings." It is held that some of the kings of this dynasty like Vira Ballála I (1101-06) and Narasimha III (1263-91) had strong Jaina affinities.
In the south, in spite of the rise of Brahmanical leaders such as Kumärila, Sankarācārya and Manikka Văcakār, the Jainas had their strongholds at Kanci and Madurã. With varying fortunes, the south as also the Deccan all along remained strongholds of Digambara Jainism. But there is no doubt that round about the eighth century Jainism lost grip, as it had to face tough opposition from Saivism. There was persecution of the Jainas by Pallava (fourth to tenth century) and Pandya (circa third century to 920) rulers under the influence of the Saiva saints Appara and Sambandara. At a much later date, under the Vijayanagara and the Nayaka rulers the Jainas had to come to terms with the Saivas and the Vaişpavas. For instance, an epigraph of the reign of Veákațådri Näyaka of Belur refers to the crasing of a Sivalinga by a Jaina at Halebid in 1633. A compromise was reached after the flare-up, which resulted in the precedence of the Saiva form of worship over the Jaina form.
With the advent of the Muslims, practically all Indian religions suffered a set-back and Jainism was no exception. There are, however, some of individual Jaina pontiffs influoncing some Muslim rulers, but such cases are
* Dco, op. cit., pp. 121-22. * N. Venkataramanayye, The Eastern Capukya of Vengi, Madras, 1950, pp. 288-89.
Epigraphia Carnatica, II, 1923, inscription 69, pp. 31 and 34. The origin of the dynasty is sometimes ascribod to Sudatta or Sudatti Vardhamana, B.A. Salctore, Medlaeval Jainism with Special Reference to the Vijayanagør Empire, Bombay, pp. 64-68.
* Epigraphla Carnatica, V, 1902, Belur Talag, taxcription 128, p. 192.
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