Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

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JAINISM AND KARNATAKA CULTURE
adopt the Saiva or Lingayat religion. The same story is also repeated in a slightly varied form in the Chenna Basava Purāņa as well. Fleet thinks that Desinga is a corruption for Jayasimha .and identifies the monarch with Jayasimha III Cālukya.'06 Our belief as to the political character of these alleged persecutions, so far as the Cālukyas themselves were concerned, is further supported by the fact that in championing the cause of Saivism they were acting contrary to the traditions of their own ancient family. For, the Cālukyas from the beginning belonged to the Vaişpava and not the Saiva sect of Hinduim. They had a boarcrest which they "acquired through the favour of the divine Nårāyaṇa."107 Moreover, like the later Colas, the later rulers of this Cālukya family renewed their patronage of Jainism when they were well established. It is stated in an inscription at Sravana Belgola that the Jaina teacher Swami won the title of " Sabda-Caturmukha" at the hands of King Ahavamalla who is identified with Cālukya Someswara 1.108 However, when the same prince made a grant to the Jainas, it seems, he had to make a special appeal to the villagers, showing thereby that Jainism must have by this time become unpopular among the masses. 103
The anti-Jaina movement had spread like wild-fire in the entire peninsula. The Colas, its champions in the South, had grown so strong that they appear to have over-run the Cālukya territory under Someswara I. It is stated that they destroyed the Jaina temples at Puligere or Lakşmeswar, built by Permadi Ganga. The inscription relates, “The excellent temples which Permādi Ganga had constructed, the outcaste Pondi Cola destroyed and descended to adhogati (hell)." * Under Some
106 Floot, Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts, Do 44 n. 2. 107 Floot, Kalachumbārra Grant of Amma II, Ep. Ind. VII, p. 189:
Cf. S. and 0.C loscriptions, Ind. Ant, X, p. 57; VII, p. 110;
100 illustration, Smith, she Oxford History of India, P. 201. 108 Ep. Car, II, SB 67; cf. Fábid, Introd., p. 48.
• Eliot, Hindu logoriptions, J.R.A.S. IV, P. 14.