Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 75

HISTORICAL SURVEY
Belgola.1" Likewise, Irugapa, the trusted general of Harihara II being a staunch Jaina, erected and endowed Jaina temples even at the royal capital. An inscription on tie lamp-pillar of the Gāņagitti temple (Oil-woman's Temple) lat Hampi (suburb of Vijayanagara), beginning with an invocation to Jina and Jinaśāsana, states that Irugapa (son of Harihara's dandanāyaka Caica or Caica pa ) who adhered to the doctrine of the Jaina teacher Simhanandi built the stone temple of Kunthu-Jinanātha at Vijayanagara. It is also stated that this Irugapa or Irugadandésa or daņdanātha (General) composed the Jaina lexicon Nänārtha-ratnamālā.143 Another inscription at Conjeevaram speaks of Irugapa, son of Dandanāyaka Vaicaya (Baicapa or Caica pa ? ), as liaving made a grant to a Jaina temple " for the benefit of Bukkarāya (II) son of Harihara (II)."197 His sons too seem to have carried on the same policy of promoting the Jaina cause. 195
Of Bukkarāya (II) himself, there is another inscription in the Gurugaļa Basti at Mudbidre ( in South Kanara District ) which records his grant to that Jaina temple.196 Under Devaraya II, perhaps the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty of Vijayanagara, similar grants were made to the Jaina temples in the same district. One of them alludes to one kolaga of paddy, given to a Jaina temple at Basrür, on every bullock-load coming into the town ; 187 and another under the same ruler speaks of a gift to Abhinava Cīrukīrti Panditācārya for the construction of the Tribhuvana Cūļāmaņi Caityālaya ( on 29th January 1430 A. D.) when Devarāja Wodêya of Nāgamangala was ruling over Mangaļūra-rājya.'98 The Vijayanagara inscription of Devaraya
192 Ep. Car. II, SB 337. 193 Hultzsch, S.J.I. I, pp. 156 ff. 194 Ep. Ind. VII, pp. 115-16. 195 Ibid. VIII, p. 22; cf. Heras, Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagar I p. 539. 196 Rapgāchārya, Inscriptions of the Madras Presidency II, SK 116. 197 Ibid., BR 27. 198 Mangesha Rao, Murlabidaréya Hosa Basadiya S'Hta-acisanagalu,
Twelth Karnātaka gähitya Sammelan Roport, 1997, p. 15%