Jaina Corpus of Koppala Inscriptions X rayed

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 87

68 / Jaina Corpus of Koppa!a
study of the available epigraphical, literary and archeological data, that much remains to be known about the nature of the growth and spread of Nirgrantha religion. This monograph is an attempt in this direction to show that this hoard of nisidhikas, offer indubitable proof of the resurgence and supermacy of Nirgrantha cult at Koppaļa.
Like Śravanabelago!a, Koppaļa was a prestigious and sacred settlement of a host of ācāryas. Therefore, it was a place of rendezvous for Jainas for several centuries. It is not the vandalism by man alone that has anhilated the Jaina vestiges, the ravages of nature has also contributed. Despite all such oddities, whatever is extant now is a solid proof and it provides a panoramic view of what existed once. The whole thing had to be searched, collected, compiled and seen through the Jaina agama perspective. Apparently, the process has been hard and strenuous, but a loving enterprise for which I claim no perfection; however, I should submit that no effort has been spared to present what could be the best for the reader's consumption. I have personally visited time and again many archaeologically important places and collected the valuable data. I have tried to compile the history of anekāntamata, not in isolation but in consonance with the general history of Karnataka. It is nonJaina specialists who have supplied an authentic infrastructure through their commendable pioneering works. The jaina apathy has resulted in the neglect of their ancient's contribution to the overall evolution of Pan Indian culture, during their hay days.
Jaina archaeology, art and history are subjects that have been in a nascent state since long. I trust that the information, rather a bird's eye view of the great store house of Jaina heritage in this book, will evoke and inspire the interested scholars to take up further indepth study, to improve the state of neglect for such a long time. The composite culture of jains can still trace back the traits of its remote prehistorical period. Jaina culture has amply contributed to the enrichment and alround development of Karnataka through ages. As far as possible I have attempted to offer