Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 72

JAINISM AND KARNĀTAKA CULTURE
This was certainly an age of great toleration, at any rate among the enlightened people. The example of Vişnuvardhana was followed by many others. His queen Santaladevi, while still adhering to her laina faith, granted to 220 Brāhmaṇas a village near Hassan which she had received from her hasband. 178 The great Saiva temple at Halébid, built by Kêtamalla, a rich Saiva merchant, was dedicated to the tolerent king and called after him, — Vişnuvardhana Hoysalêśwara Temple, whicb, literally translated would mean: “The Siva temple of the Hoysaļa promoter of Vaişņvism." 178 This is enough testimony to the spirit of the age, Vişnuvardhana, likewise, appears to have made a grant to Mārbala Tirtha, which Dr. Krishnaswami Aiyangar thinks is "apparently a Saiva shrine on the Chāmunda hill.” 180
The tradition was carried on by his successors as well. Narasimha I made a grant to the Bhavya-Cūņāmaņi Basti at Belgo!a.181 His minister Hulla ( who has been bracketed with Canndarāya and Gangarāja as the greatest promoter of Jainism) erected an epitaph to the Jaina Acarya Devakīrti, besides building several bastis.182 The Bhandāri Basti at Belgo!a, in which I met a nude Digambara sådhu by name Vţşabhasena in 1927, is attributed to Narasimha's treasurer. Under Vira Ballāļa II, grandson of Vişnuvardhana, the kingdom was organised "upon a footing of peace and prosperity;" and the king assumed for the first time the titles of independent royalty. In 1176 A.D. a Jaina temple was built by a Jaina merchant who called it Vira Ballala Jinālaya, in honour of the king, and Vira Ballala granted it a village.188 About twenty years later, in 1195 A.D., Nāgadeva, minister and Pattaņa-swāmi of Balļāla
178 Cf. Ibid, II Introd., p. 7. 179 of. Krisboaswāmi Aiyangār, Ancient India, p. 238. 180 Ibid., p. 239. 181 Ep. Car. II, S. B. 348, 349; cf. Ibid. Introd., p. 26. 183 Ibid., 8. B. 63. 64 and 345 ; cf. Ibid. Introdi, pp. 46, 78, 188 Mysore Arohaeological Report. 1923, pp 89-40.