Jaina Monuments of Andhra

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

Page 42

Jaina Monuments of Andhra
the Jainas. The Siddhesvra-charitra of Kase Sarvappa" informs that there was a debate between Tikkana-Somayajin and Jains in the court of Ganapatideva wherein the latter were utterly defeated. Thereupon, Ganapatideva himself started a bloody campaign of persecution against the Jains. From the Pudur inscription, it is learnt that Ganapatideva's general Jagadala occupied Pudur and converted it into a seat of Saivism having dismantled the Jaina vestiges. Ruthless persecution of the Jainas by the Virasaivites is well revealed by a later inscription dated A.D. 1512 from Srisailam.78 It informs that a certain Virasaiva chief named Linga, son of Santa, took pride in cutting off the heads of Svetambara Jains.
38
Indifference of Kings
Generally the growth and decline of any religious faith depends chiefly on the support of the rulers. The above analysis specifically states that the rulers of the age took partisan attitude and encouraged Saivites in their deadly battle against the Jains. The silence of the rulers in the persecution of the Jainas by the Virasaivites, itself suggests that the rulers remained silent spectators and indirectly supported the Virasaivites. Except for Bukkaraya I who brought about reconciliation between the Vaishnavas and Jainas in A.D. 1368,79 no other ruler in Andhra is known to have even attempted to bring the two faiths together. But a careful examination of certain historical events reveals that the rulers of Andhra must have been dazzled by the miracles performed by the Saivites in the royal courts and hence embraced Saivism at once. Public support also seems to have followed the path of their rulers. Indifference of the rulers coupled with the change in the attitude of the populace led to the decline of Jainism in Andhra.
Besides, another factor that brought in slackness in the activities of the Jains, was the emergence of costly mathas as a result of lavish gifts to the Jain-establishments. With the result, the original tenet of non-possession was cast-aside, and the preceptors went to the extent of appropriating lands and gifts granted to the basadis for their own purpose. An inscription dated S. 99880 informs that a certain Jain Preceptor, Srinandipanditadeva, acquired possession of some fields