Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 62

JAINISM AND KARNATAKA CULTURE fantasia T THOSHTI
रचितामोघवर्षण सुधियां सदलंकृतिः॥ It means, the wise Amoghavarșa in his wisdom composed this Ratnamālika having renounced his kingdom ; 186 and Dr. Bhandārkar observes that this event is easily believable as, otherwise, the dates of the Saundatti inscription of Krsnarāja II ( Saka 797) and the Kanheri Inscription of Amoghavarşa I (Saka 799) become irreconcilable. The latter grant must have been made about two years after Amoghavarşa's abdication. He adds, “Of all the Rästrakūtas, Amoghavarsa was the greatest patron of Jainism; and that he himself adopted the Jaina faith seems true." 137 Dr. Altekar, however has since shown how Amoghavarşa did not altogether renounce Hinduism.187 a.
Under these circumstances, it seems surprising that the son and immediate successor of Amoghavarşa should have been an ardent devotee of the Saiva faith. 138 But it is not altogether strange, in India, where, for the most part, people have enjoyed the plenitude of religious freedom. The Kailāsa temple at Ellora is a monument to Saiva zeal no less than the bold conceptions of the Hindu architect. Yet its breadth of outlook and atmosphere of toleration is visible both in the sculptures on its walls and in the existence, side by side, of Buddhist, Brāhmanical and Jaina caves and shrines in wonderful proximity. Still, in the fierce glow of the contemporary struggle between Jainism and Brāhmanism, Kșşņa's enthusiasm for the Saivas must have been looked upon with suspicion by the Jainas. Hence, we find that Guņabhadra completed his Uttarapurāņa, the sequel to the Adipurāņa of Jinasena, not at the Rāshrakūta capital, where it had been commenced under Amoghavarşa 'I, but at Bankāpura the head quaters of
136 Nathuram Promi, Vidvadratnamālā I. p. 80; of. Bhandarkar, Report
on San MSS. 1883-84, Notes p. 121, ii, 1, 18. 137 Bom, Gaz I 88, p. 2 1. 137a Alteker, op cit., p. 88. .. 138 Bbandărkar, The Räshrakūta King Krisboarāja and Elapura Ind, Ant
XII, p 229; Early History of the Dekkan, p. 64 0 2.