Jaina Corpus of Koppala Inscriptions X rayed

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 26

7.0
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Medieval Jainism in Karnataka saw stormy centuries. The alien Colas and the local Śaivaites demolished Jinälayas and monasteries, ransacked its treasures. Therefore, the strong walls of Nirgrantha fort was hit hard. With all this devastation, Jainism had a saving grace, and an innate strength to sustain and thrive elsewhere. What remains today in and around Koppala is scattered ruins, which are like picture book, to recall the significant events of the past history, of the syādvāda ecumene in ancient Karnataka.
Preamble/7
It is rather difficult to fix the exact date of the destruction of Jaina temple and niśidhi columns at Koppala. It is equally difficult to say whether the destruction was the result of a single catastrophe or of a whole series of incidents. But, it is neither the callousness nor the catastrophe of art-robbers that is responsible for the disappearence and physical ruin of significant irreplaceable art historical evidence. The only reliable hint for the dilapidation and final annihilation of the Jaina monuments is from the statement made in a Persian inscription [AREP 1963-64. No. 173. 1779 C.E.], which states that the main fort at Koppala was constructed, in the shape of a battery in the European fashion along with two gateways; one more epigraph in a chronogram which records the date of the construction of a burj [bastion] in the year 1785-86 C.E. [ibid, No. 174] also endorses it.
These two records help us to surmise that a complete or final destruction of the then existing Jaina monuments, including the present post-mortem memorial stones, took place during the last two decades of eighteenth century. Obviously the fort-builders started their scandalous operations of constructing the bastion, with material taken away from Jaina temples. Besides, callousness on the part of the masionary was so much that they have cut and broken the art pieces recklessly.
The following chapters will focus on the varied dimensions of the new discovery.