Jaina Corpus of Koppala Inscriptions X rayed

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 35

16 / Jaina Corpus of Koppaļa
asteries. According to the local legend, at one time there were not less than 772 Jaina shrines. It is because of this amazing number of basadis that Koppala assumed greater importance and sprang into fame as a mahā-tirtha. Since it was one of the earliest places associated with Jaina monachs and monasteries, it had the distinction of being an ādi-tirtha also. Added to this, if somebody were to construct a marvellous basadi, anywhere in Karnāțaka, immediate reaction of the laity and patriachs would be, 'ah! It now looks like Kopaņa-tirtha!', and such was the grandeur of basadis at Koppa!
But all that is a part of past history. What remains to-day at Koppaļa are a bare skeleton of the bygone days. Almost all the basadis, except the Candranātha basadi, also called the Pārsvanātha basadi, in the premises of the fort, are destroyed. Some names of the basadis that once existed here, are mentioned in the inscriptions:
Attimabbarasi basadi Arasiya basadi Candranātha basadi Cattaga basadi Dannāyaka basadi Jayadhira - Jinālaya Kuća Jinālaya Nāgadevana basadi Neminātha Jinālaya Pärsvanatha basadi Puşpadanta Jinālaya Sāntaladevi basadi śāntinātha basadi Timambarasiya basadi (?)
Of the above basadis, Jayadhira Jinālaya was caused by Sankaraganda, a feudatory under the Rāştrakūtas, a patron of surpassing excellence, who built Jaina monasteries elsewhere also including Kollipāke. Ranna (C.E. 993) poet - laureate in the court of Tailappa-|| (973-97) and his son Satyāśraya Isivabedanga (997-1008), the Cālukya emperors, has eulogised Sankaraganda, along with Būtuga-11 (935-61), his sons Maru!adeva and Mārasimha-11 (961-73), Cāmuṇdarāya and Dānacintāmaņi