Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

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JAINISM AND KARNATAKA CULTURE
sun and moon may last. Those who destroy this (Grant) (sin as much) as those who destroy cats or Brāhmaṇas or bulls or cows at the conjunction of the Gangăsăgara and the Yamuna, or at the sacred shrines of Varanasi or Gaye. The Jinālaya of the brave Pêrmādi '.118
Another Rațța inscription reads: "Other Kings are addicted to the forbidden recreations of gaming, hunting, eating flesh, associating with courtesans,....mixing with low people, stealing and unfair ram-fighting and cock-fighting; but even apart from that are they like you, O King Rājā! devoted to the worship of Jina and to giving gifts to world-renowned saints ? " Then it states: 'King Rājā....whose head is ever purified by the fragrant waters of the rites of the Jaina religion, who ever relates the legends of religion, a very moon to the ocean of nectar of the doctrines of Jina,-caused to be erected at Kalpole, a temple of Jina, wonderful to behold, the diadem of the earth, having three pinnacles that are unequalled so that Brahma, Vişņu and Siva were charmed with it and said “The Jaina religion is a spotless religion.” He also erected a place of retreat for the high-minded devotees of the god śāntinātha (Jina ) adorned with golden pinnacles and arched portals, fashioned like a sea-monster, and pillars of honour, and give it to Subhacandra-Bhattāraka-deva, who was considered his own preceptor'. 120
The spiritual lineage of Subhacandra is traced from the celebrated original sect of Kundakunda, which is the abode of victory. In it there became famous Maladhāri, the best of sages, the conqueror of passion, the glory of the race of spiritual preceptors, of pure deeds, endowed with good qualities, free from sloth, having kings prostrate before the lotuses which are his feet. His nails were as an amulet to counter-act the deadly venom of the poisonous serpent lust, the letters of his name were as a charm to drive away the fierce demon ignorance, the scarf
219 Ibid., p. 203. 220 Ibid., p. 235,