Jaina Monuments of Andhra

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

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Introduction
The Royal Patronage
The above analysis clearly reveals that Jainism held firm base in Andhra by 7th century A.D. Further, the Chinese piligrim Yuanchwang33 who sojourned for some time in Andhra during 7th century A.D. speaks of the 'Nirgranthas' whom we generally identify as Jains. Though we do not find any information from his itinary about the state of 'Jainism in Andhra', we can safely conclude that Jainism was in a flourishing state at that time. However, the establishment of the Eastern Chalukyan Kingdom of Vengi in A.D.624, ushered, indeed, a glorious phase in the history of Andhra Jainism. The founders of the Chalukya kingdom of Vengi were not the indigenous inhabitants of the Telugu country but migrated from Karnataka and held sway for nearly five centuries. They were an offshoot of the imperial Chalukyas of Badami who patronised Jainism. Originally the Vengi kingdom was confined to the east coast only, while the rest of the Telugu territory namely the regions of Telangana and Rayalsima, were included in the dominions of the dynasties ruling from outside Andhra i.e. Chalukyas of Badami, the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta and the Chalukyas of Kalyana. All these families were patrons of Jainism. The kingdom of Vengi became a cock-pit of their Sanguinary wars. Inspite of such unfavourable circumstances, Jainism became popular mainly due to the benevolence of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.
Jainism under the Chalukyas of Vengi
The first recorded evidence of a Jaina establishment we notice in Andhra is the Nadumbivasadi, of modern Vijayawada in the present Krishna District, as known from the Musinikonda plates of Vishnuvardhana III (A.D. 718-752).34 This record renews the grant of the village Musinikonda situated in the Tonka-Natavadi Vishaya, to the pontiff named Kalibhadrachaya, for the benefit of the Jaina temple, (viz) Nadumbivasadi, which was built by Ayyanamahadevi, queen of KubjaVishnuvardhana I, the founder of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty (624641 A.D.). It further informs that the pontiff of the vasadi belonged to the Surastra gana to whom the grant was renewed was the seventh in line, from Chandra Prabha the first Pontiff of the Vasadi. The Surashtra