Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 37

HISTORICAL SURVEY
for our theme. The value of Kundakunda's work will be assessed in a later chapter. He is placed about the first century B. C. by some scholars.19 Professor A. N. Upadhye places him at the beginning of the Christian Era.20
KADAMBAS AND GANGAS The next contemporary epigraphical foothold that we possess," in following the history of Jainism in Karnāțaka is a grant made by the Kadamba Kakutsthavarma, when he was Yuvarāja, to the General Śrutakirti:** The gift consisted of a field called • Bodhavara-kşetra' 'which was in the village of Khețagrāma which belongs to the holy Arhats;' and the record concludes with Reverence to Rşabha !" Yet, in the light of other grants of the same prince we cannot conclude that the donor was an "avowed Jaina," as some have sought to make out of Kakutsthavarma.” The circumstances under which the gift was made appear to be that Śrutakīrti, who was a Jaina, saved the life of Kakutsthavarma and thus earned the grant: Possibly, therefore, out of sheer gratitude, he only used Jaina invocations for the satisfaction of the donee. Kakutsthavarma also made similar grants to Brāhmaṇs,” but he never repeated in them his
reverence to Rşabha !' Had he been himself an “avowed Jaina ” he would surely have done so. In this connection the following observations of Prof. Moræas on the religion of the Kadambas may very well be borne in mind. These kings nevertheless were of a very tolerant disposition, and allowed other religions to flourish in their kingdom side by side with
19 I, A. XXI, p. 74; Hiralal, Catalogue of MSS. in C.P. d Berar, Introd. p. vii ft.
20 Pravacanasāra, Introd p. 22.
91 The foundation of the Ganga kingdom under Jains auspices will be dealt with later. Though the event is supposed to have taken place earlier, its earliest extant opigraphic reterence belongs to the 7th cent. A. D.
29 Fleet, Sanskrit and Old Canarese Inscriptions, I. A. VI. p. 24. 23 Dr. B. A. Saletore, Mediaeval Jaimion, p. 30.
24 E. O. VII, i, BK 176; E, C. VIII, pp. 28-36. JEO-2528-2