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168
JAINISM AND KARNATAKA CULTURË
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the former must have been at one time Vaisnavas (Lit. Lakşmiśayana abode (bed ) of Vişnu's consort); and the latter must have called themselves in imitation of the former's name. It is possible the latter considered themselves a purer division. Both have their chief seat in Kolhāpūr. There is also a Balātkāragana with its head-quarters at Hombas in Mysore. Each sect has its own guru who is invariably an ascetic.155 The Pancamas have their own guru called Lakşmi-sena Swāmi, who also lives at Kolhāpur. The guru of the Setvāls is at Hombad near Honāwar (North Kanara District). That of the Bogars is at Mālkhed, in the Nizam's territory; he is strangely - called Balutkāragun represesenting the name of the sect rather than that of a person. The Caturtharu or Caturthas have also their own teacher at Kurundwād. 166 We have already seen that there is no free social intercourse (i.e. marriage and interdining !) between these various sects and divisions. That even geographical divisions act as great barriers is indicated by the fact that Kannada and Gujarati Jainas do not dine together.167 The Jainas of the extreme South in the same way, form a community by themselves. Their high-priest has his seat at Sittamür in the Tindivanam Taluk of South Arcot District. He claims to have power over all Jainas South of Madras, independently of Belgoļa and Kanara 158 All these Jainas have no marrige relations outside their own small circle. No wonder that year after year their census indicate a steady decline in population. 159
155 Of. Dharwar, op. cit., p. 118. 156 Cf. Belgaum, op. cit., p. 103. There does not appear to be a teacher 157 Cf. Charwar, op. cit., p. 117. of the caturthas at Kurundwad 158 Thurston, op. cit. pp. 439-31. j now; there are teachers at Nandani,
Kolhapur, and Belgaum. 159 During the thirty years from 1891-1991 their decrease for the whole of
India has been 5.8% (1901), 6.4% (1911), and 9.4% (1921). Of. Shah, ' Decreasing Jaina Population,' The Jaina Gazette XX, p. 167. To cite one specific instance, the population of B'ravana Belgola, their chief centre in the South, has decreased from 18, 237 in 1911 to 17,299 in 1921. Mysor. Census Report, 1991, Pt. V, p. 195.
