Jaina Monuments of Andhra

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

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Introduction
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comprising 500 Jaina Vasadis.53 Numerous Jaina images, collected from Patancheruvu was preserved in the Khajana Building Museum in Hyderabad. His Maski inscription54 registers the gift of 50 marttars of black-soil and 50 mattars of akadi to the Jaina basadi, constructed by Basavoja in the year S. 949 (A.D. 1027). His another inscription from Saidapur55 informs that the king Jagadekamalla-I made a gift, at the request of Vaidyaratnakara, Pranacharya, Aggalayya, to the two Jaina temples namely Buddhasena-Jinalaya of Mucchanapalli and Vaidyaratnakara-Jinalaya at Ikkuriki, while camping at Potlakere in A.D. 1034. It is also known that Vaidyaratnakara, Aggalayya was an expert in Sastra and Sastra (Surgery and medicine). His successors Somesvara and Vikramaditya V also extended liberal patronage to Jainism.
Tribhuvanamalladeva Vikramaditya VI (1076-1126 A.D.) son of Somesvara I was the distinguished prince of the dynasty. There are several records pointing out his patronage of Jainism. During his reign many Jaina establishments in Andhra received patronage. An
cription,56 informs that Bodhan, Konakondla, Ujjili, Pudur, Bairanipalli, Kolanupak, Chilkuru, Anumakonda, Banajipet, Togarakunta, etc., were prosperous Jain-Kshetras and gifts to them flowed lavishly from the overlord and his vassals. The next ruler, Somesvara III (Bhulokamalla) also encouraged Jainism. Jadcherla inscription57 dated A.D. 1126 informs that a certain Bammisetti, constructed a chaityalaya at Gangapur (i.e. Gollattagudi) while Bhulokamalla was ruling from Kalyana. There are two records referring to Someswara IV, the last ruler of the dynasty, as a patron of Jaina faith and its supporter. From the above analysis we understand that Jainism was widespread and the rulers supported and patronised Jainism liberally. With the support and encouragement of the later Chalukyas, Jainism commanded a large volume of support. Among the subordinate families of the later Chalukyas, the early Kakatiyas, the Polavasa chiefs and the Nollamba-Pallavas, patronised Jainism. Jainism under the Kakatiyas
The early Kakatiyas like their overlords, encouraged Jainism. Their epigraphs inform that Warangal flourished as a Jaina centre under the