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meant for those who renounce the life of a householder, and take to the life of a recluse by joining the monkhood or nunhood, and not for those who continue to live an ordinary life. The truth is that whatever the great exponents, the Tirthankaras and their disciples preached, applied to one and all. As such, lay-life is no impediment in realizing the highest and ultimate goal in Jainism. Mahavira and his predecessors envisaged the total Jaina community consisting of the four-fold congregation of the sect-the monk, nun, upāsaka of śravaka, the male householder, and upasika or sravika, the lady votary, in the equal spiritual gain by all of them on par.
Thus, there is no need to exaggerate the significance of the corpus of Koppala inscriptions apropos the history of Karnataka and Jainism. I had the opportunity of editing and analysing these epigraphs in my Kannada book entitled 'Koppala Śāsanagalu' (1998). Based on that, I have endevoured to highlight the same material in this book, incorporating some required changes. My learned friend Dr. Devarakonda Reddy has helped me in procuring the photographs of Koppala, Prakash Kambathahalli, one of the leading and standard publishers in Karnataka, has accepted the onus of publishing this book, in addition to my two other books in English. M/s Sathyasri Printers have satisfactorily done the printing work. Dr. Kamala Hampana, my wife, as usual has been the source of inspiration. I am greatful to all of them, and others too, who have helped me in preparing this monograph.
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