Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 41

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to have uprooted Canḍadunda the lord of Kanchi and established himself at Palasika. Ravivarma's grand-father Śāntivarma has also been described as the master of the entire Karnața region. '40 These serve to indicate the political status of these Early Kadambas of Halsi or Palasika. Hence their personal allegiance to the Jaina faith must have had considerable influence in spreading the religion among the masses as well. The motive that incited him (Ravivarma)," says the grant, was to increase his religious merit." " Similarly, his brother Bhanuvarma's devotion to Jainism is also attested by a grant: "By him, desirous of prosperity, this land was given to the Jainas, in order that the ceremony of ablutions might always be performed without fail on the days of the full-moon.' It was, as usual, given "free from the gleaningtax and all other burdens ;" and was assigned by the Bhojaka Pandara. "The worshipper of the Supreme Arhat, who had acquired the favour of the feet of the glorious king Bhanuvarma." "
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HISTORICAL SURVEY
Last but not the least, Kadamba Harivarma's grant speaks of "the sect of Virasenācārya of the Kūrcakas of the village of Vasantavāṭika in the district of Suddikundara," to whose leader Candrakṣānta the grant was made "for providing annually at the great eight days' sacrifice the perpetual anointing with clarified butter, for the temple of the Arhat, which Mṛgesa, son of the general Simha of the lineage of Bharadwāja, had caused to be built at Palasika." Whatever was to remain over after this, the grant adds, was to be devoted to the purpose of feeding the whole sect." Harivarma also made another grant to the Jainas "at the request of Bhanuśakti of the family of Sendrakas." Speaking of the donor it says,
"the
39 Ibid., p 30.
40 Cf. Dubreuil, Ancient Deccan, pp. 74-5.
41 Fleet, S. and O. C. Inscriptions, Ind. Ant. VI, p 30.
42 Ibid., p 29.
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43 Ibid, p 31.