Jaina Corpus of Koppala Inscriptions X rayed

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 83

64 / Jaina Corpus of Koppaļa
To put it in a nut-shell, these new inscriptions unambiguously prove in unmistakable terms that the Gangas were devot Jains. It is because of the sustained support of the stalwarts of Gangas that Jainism could flourish and assume unparalleled magnitude in Karnataka. On the luminous spectrum of the Ganga kings, Būtuga shines like a polar star.
While elucidating the socio-cultural prominence of the present anthology, some of the achievements and active participation of women of all ranks, from the lay votary to the queen, in religious activities deserve prominent place. On par with men, Jaina women made liberal grants to temples, took part in religious ceremonies, followed the path of renunciation, accepted the rigid rule of nunhood. Women of Ganga family were always in the fore-front to perpetuate the majestic lustre of the Jaina church.
Like monks, the nuns also used to change their personal names on the holy occasion of their initiation to the nunhood; but, the change of nomenclature was not obligatory. Women were never restricted from entering the nunhood in Jainism. Women of the Ganga dynasty, on a large scale, took the vow of sanyasana. Some of them had renouned the terrestrial interests in their early age to practice yoga, meditation, and the methodical study of scriptures. So many friars and nuns attaining their mortal end, by chanting the Jaina litany in the holy manner prescribed by the great saints of the Nirgrantha order, is very much illustrated in the corpus of Koppa! inscriptions.
An added interesting point of the recently discovered epigraphs is that most of them contain a graphic picture of some illustrious preceptors who were held in high reverence by their contemporary ruling class, particularly the Gangas, the Rāştrakūtas and the Kalyāņa Cālukyas.
These friars were master exponents of Nirgrantha philosophy. Through their austerity, strenous penance, simplicity and a transparent personality, they commanded instant respect from one and all. They inspired their devotees by