Jaina Corpus of Koppala Inscriptions X rayed

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 49

30/ Jaina Corpus of Koppala
of Koṇḍakundācārya and Gṛddhrapincācārya, because of whom the place attained such an excellence. The anvaya that took its origin from this place is popular as Kondakundānvaya. Kondakunda has been identified as the modern Konakondla, now in Anantapuram district of Andhra Pradesh. Ganga Perur, again in Andhra, is associated with the adept Simhanandi Acārya who promoted the Ganga dynasty and inspired the young princes in carving a celebrated kingdom that continued to rule for over nine hundred years.
The Mulasangha, a dominant ecclesiastical institution which is referred to in many of the Koppala epigraphs, was established by Mahāvīra. Indrabhūti Gautama (Pk. Indabui Goyama) was the first to hold its pontiffical chair. Later, Bhadrabahu brought it to the south, and it branched off to many ganas and gacchas. Konḍakunda ācārya, one of the greatest of patriarchs, consolidated the splinter groups, and made Mulasangha, the original congregation, and invincible force in the south: Śri Koṇḍakunda-nāmā-bhūn-mulasanghā=graņi gani [EC. II (R) No. 79 (69) C. 12th Cent. C.E. p. 55].
Thus, Mulasangha maintained its hold for over a thousand years and had its sway over all other branches including the Yapaniya.
Pincha olim Rajoharana
Piñcha (Picca, Pincha), the broom stick (rajoharaṇa), has been an indispensable belonging of the Nirgrantha monk, along with the Kamaṇḍala, the water pot.
Umāsvāti ācārya used a broom of eagle feathers to ward off insects from his sitting place, and hence he got the cognomen of Gṛdhrapiñcha. Similarly monk with a mayūrapincha, or a balāka pincha or ulūkapincha called respectively as Mayūrapiñchācārya, Balākapiñchācārya, Ulūka-piñchācārya.
According to a legend, the well-known KKA compelled (balātkāra) a stone Sarsvati (goddess of knowledge) to