Jaina Monuments of Andhra

Author(s): G Jawaharlal
Publisher: Sharada Publishing House Delhi

Page 25

Introduction
21
Bodhan contained a huge idol of Gomatha measuring 525 bows high and it actually prompted Chamundaraya to erect such a colossal image of Gomatha at Sravana Belgola.“
Jain literature contains many references to suggest the patronage of Jainism by the Satavahanas, the earlier rulers of Andhra. The Avasyaka Sutra refers to the king Salivahana of Paithan, as a devotee of Jinadeva?. Jinaprabhasuri in his Kalpapradipa refers to a tradition which informs that in the Satavahana court at Pratistana, flourished fifty-two warriors who built 52 Jain temples named after their own names. Another tradition mentions that a certain Satavahana requested the Jain pontiff to postpone his discourse so that they could also attend it. Thus the traditional accounts make us believe that Jainism had its early footing in Andhra during the Satavahana period.
Archaeological Evidence
Until recently, the famous Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela alone is considered as the first and earliest epigraphical evidence to support the early advent of Jainism in Andhra. We all know that Kharvela was a staunch Jaina and belonged to the Maha-meghavahana family, who boldly declared himself as bhikshuraja (king of monks). Since then, the Mahameghavahana family is considered as a devout Jain family. The recently discovered Brahmi inscription of a Mahameghavahana king named Sadalo at Guntupalli in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, revolutionised our views about the nature of Guntupalli caves. Till recently Guntupalli is considered as a sacred Buddhist-Kshetra. Now, with the discovery of Mahameghavahana chief Sada's record at Guntupalli, it becomes clear that the Guntupalli caves were originally of the Jainasl and not of the Buddhists as hitherto believed. 12 The neighbouring villages of Guntupalli, (viz.) Asanagudem and Bayyanagudem contain several Jain vestiges. It must be remembered that Jainism enjoyed the privilege of being a popular faith even before Sada ruled in Andhra. Being a devout Jain, Sada ordered his minister, Chula-Goma to erect a mandapa at Guntupalli only to express his reverence for Jainism. This fact takes the beginnings of Jainism to pre-Sada period i.e. few centuries before Christ.