Jaina Monuments of Andhra

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

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Introduction
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The Virasaiva movement led by Basava in Karnataka provided impetus to the Saivites in Andhra. Virasaivism severely attacked to the oppresive caste distinctions. It also infused new zeal and fervour among the people and inspired them to renounce the old and set up a new social order based on universal brotherhood.68 This lofty ideal attracted the people which became popular in no time. Saivite literature and local records contain vivid references to the Jaina-Saiva conflicts and the final destruction of the former. The Guntur Kaifiyat69 refers to the annhilation of a large number of Jaina monuments by TrilochanaPallava. The Tenali Kaifiyat70 informs that Mukkanti (or Trilochana) got dismantled a Jaina basadi at Tenali and raised the temple of Ramalingesvara, on the foundations of the Jaina basadi. This is confirmed by the discovery of an image of Vardhamana in the premises of the present Ramalingesvara temple.
The Saivite works like the Panditaradhya-charita of Palkuriki Somanatha contains references pertaining to innumerable debates between the Saivites and the Jains. The earliest of them appears to be the miracle wrought-up by Sripati Pandita in the court of Anantapala between A.D. 111-1127.72 Anantapala is known to have ruled coastal districts as general of the Western Chalukyas. His inscriptions found in Chebrolu (Guntur district) and Tripurantakam (Prakasam district). The evidence of this miracle is confirmed by the record found at Bezwada.73 Devara Dasayya, a Saivite leader in Andhra is said to have performed a miracle and extirpated all the 500 Jaina-basadis at Potlakerre (i.e. Patancheru in R.R. district).74 The mutilated and broken Jaina images found at Patancheru, now kept in K.B. Museum, Hyderabad attest to the wrath heaped on the Saivites at Potlakerre. In Vengi, a certain Adapa Racayya led a fierce Saivite campaign against the Jainas.75 Western Andhra and Eastern Karnataka became a hot-beds of religious conflicts. The Virasaiva movement spread like wild fire all over Karnataka and Western Andhra. Mallikarjuna Panditaradhya is said to have dedicated his life to conduct a fierce campaign against the Jains of Pangal.76
The Kakatiyas also seem to have encouraged the persecution of