Jainism and Karnataka Culture

Author(s): S R Sharma
Publisher: Karnataka Historical Research Society Dharwar

Page 35

HISTORICAL SURVEY
not exist, except among the Yonas.”? By inference, we may presume that Śramaņas existed also in the Karnāțaka part of Aśoka's empire. As Dr. Bhandarkar has pointed out, Asoka uses the term Samgha while speaking of the Buddhists alone, and Gramaņa while referring to the Jainas as well. Kundakundācārya, the earliest of the Digambara Jaina writers of South India, applies the term śramaņas to members of his own sect. Thus it is quite plausible that Jainism continued in the South after Candragupta down to the days of Asoka.
Samprati, the grandson of Asoka, is generally accepted to have been a Jaina, being converted to the Svetāmbara creed by Subastin. He appears to have sent Jaina missionaries of his persuasion into South India. 10 Though we do not know how far they penetrated into the Karnāțaka, this is the first reference we have to the Svetāmbaras in the South. After Suhastin, the saint Kālakācārya (c. Ist cent B. C.)" is said to have gone to the King of Pentha (?) in the Deccan to invite him to attend his discourses at Pajjusana. May this have been Hāla of the Satavahana dynasty (who is believed to have been a Jaina") ruling from Paithan ( Pratiștānapura )? The early existence of Svetāmbara Jainas in North Deccan is also indicated by references to Padaliptācārya's visit to Mänyakheta (Maļkhed in the Nizam's Dominions). The Samyaktva-saptati of Haribhadrasuri relates that the people of Mānyakheta would not allow Padaliptācārya (c. Ist cent B. C.) to leave them and go elsewhere; it also says that in all the neighbourhood there existed Jaina Samghas noted for their good qualities.' But as it also adds, that just as the King Ugra (?) held him (Padaliptācārya) in high esteem, so others did not care a straw
7 Haltszch. As'oka Inscriptions, p. 47 (J). 8 Bhandarkar, As'oka, pp. 168-72.
9 Smith, Os. Hist., p. 117, n 1.' Pravacanasira; Bhandarfur, Report on San. M8., 1883-84, pp. 97-100. 10 Ibid, p 135. 11 I, A, XI, pp. 247, 251; C. H. I, p. 167–68. 12 Glassnapp, Der Jainisnus, p. 53.