Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

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JAINISM AND KARNĀTAKA CULTURE
alluding to the Jainas is that of Bukka I, dated about 1368 A.D. It reads:
“During the time of Sri Vīra Bukkarāya, dispute having arisen between the Jainas and the Bhaktas (Vaişņavas ), the blessed people (the Jainas) of all the nādus.... having made petition to Bukkarāya...... about the injustice done by the Bhaktas,-the King, taking the hand of the Jainas and placing it in the hand of the Sri Vaisnavas of the eighteen nādus, including ācāryas of the places......and declaring (at the same time) that there was no difference between the Vaişņava-darśana ( or faith) and the Jainadarśana, (decreed as follows:-) 'This Jaina-darśana is as before entitled to the five great musical instruments and the kalasa (or vase). If loss or abvancement should be caused to the Jaina-darśana through the Bhaktas, the Vaisnavas will kindly deem it as loss or advancement to their (own darśana).188 The Śri Vaişnavas will kindly to this effect set up a śāsana in all the bastis of the kingdom. For as long as the sun and moon endure, the Vaisnavas will continue to protect the Jaina-darśana. The Vaisnavas and
Jainas are one (body): they must not be viewed as different". 190 The details given of the administration of this unique edict seem to show that Bukka was even partial to the Bhavyas, as the Jainas were called, and threw the burden of their protection upon his own co-religionists, the Bhaktas or Sri Vaişnavas.'»I Later on, this attitude of protection towards the Jainas would seem to have advanced the Jainas even a step further. For, according to another inscription at Srvaņa Beļgoļa, Bima-devi the queen of Devarāya I of Vijayanagara, appears to have been a disciple of the Jaina teacher Abhinava-Cārukirti-Panditācārya, and she set up an image of Sāntinātha in the Mangayi Basti at
189 Cf. Girnår Rock Edict XII (H) of Asoka, po 18 8. 20 above. 190 Ep. Car. II, 8B 344, Traps. pp. 146-47. 191 Of. Heras, The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagar I, p. 589;
Longhurst, Humpi Ruins Discribed and Illustrated. pp. 25-6