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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India Yapaniya Sangha This Sangha, a combination of Svetämbara and Digambara practices, arose in the 5th century CE and was prominent till about the 14th century CE (Upadhye 1974: 17). It appears that it was prominent in northern Karnataka, though it also existed in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (Upadhye 1974: 18). It received liberal royal patronage from Gangas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Rattas (Vijayamurti 1957: 26). However, eventually this sangha either became extinct or was merged into the Digambara sect (Deo 1954-55: 555).
Kareya was an important gana of this sangha as known from the inscriptions of the Rattas, while Mailapa was an anvaya of this sangha after an acharya Mailaptirtha (Vijayamurti 1957: 31). The 1150 CE inscription from Desinga Borgaon is of this sangha, though this sangha is not directly mentioned and only gana and anvaya are specified. Sena Gana mentioned in Murum inscription is gana of Mula Sangha. However, since the inscription is not published, it cannot be determined whether this gana is specifically referred to as gana of Yapaniya Sangha or mentioned in other context, possibly as a gana of the Müla Sangha. Punnagavrikṣamula Gana was a unit of Nandi Sangha, the main division of Yapaniya Sangha, though it was incorporated in the Mula Sangha later on (Vijayamurti 1957: 28-29).
Dravida Sangha : It is believed that this sangha was established by Vajranandi, disciple of Pujyapada, in 469 CE in 'Dakshina Mathura' or Madurai. However, according to Saletore, it was established in last quarter of the 9th or first quarter of the 10th century CE (Deo 1954-55: 545). All the inscriptions referring to this sangha post-date the 10th-11th centuries CE, most of which belong to Kolanglva, Santara and Hoysala dynasties (Vijayamurti 1957: 34).
Kastha Sangha: According to Devasenasuri (10th century CE), Kumarasena founded this sangha in 696 CE in Nanditatagrama, while in Vachankośa (17th century CE) it is stated that it was established by Lohacharya in Amroha (Vijayamurti 1957: 66). All the inscriptions mentioning this sangha are found from northern and western India (Vijayamurti 1957: 66).
The only cave that refers to sangha is the cave at Tringalwadi, where the inscription below the icon in the shrine mentions Mula sangha. There is a reference to sarasvati gachha, balatkara gana and kunkundacharya anvaya on Mangi peak referring to the sub-sect to which the monks depicted in the panel above belonged. It does not, however, mention the sangha. Most of the inscriptions in Maharashtra do not mention an anvaya, the gachha being occasionally mentioned, while in many cases only the sangha is referred to. It is clear that the Mula Sangha and the Yapaniya Sangha, the ancient and popular sanghas of south India were widely prevalent in Maharashtra. At Kolhapur the line of Mula Sangha, Deśiya Gana and Pustaka Gachha was quite influential in the mid11th century CE. At the same time, Yapaniya Sangha also existed here. We have an early evidence of Dravida Sangha in the Vajirkheda inscription, though all the known records mentioning this Sangha are said to post-date the 10th-11th century CE. Moreover, the Vinnaryya or Chinaryya Anvaya of this sangha, mentioned in this record is not known otherwise (Vijayamurti 1957: 33-42, Deo 1954-55: 545-546). The Kastha Sangha, which
