Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 82

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JAINISM AND KARNATAKA CULTURE
of Nandavar, Ajalars of Aldangaḍi, Mulars of Bailangaḍi, and Săvantas of Mulki.12
The ancient name of South Kanara was Tuluva, which extended far beyond its present limits. An inscription in the Hosa Basti at Mudbidrê speaks of 'Sriman Mahamandalêśwara Jinadasa Sälvamalla Mahivallabha' as:
“ ತೌಳವದೇಶ ತಿಲಕಾಯಮಾನ ನಗರ ನಗರ ಸಿದ್ಧ ಸಿಂಹಾಸನಾಧಿಪತಿಯಾಗಿ ಸುವರ್ಣಪುರಿಯಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕೃತಮಾದ ಹೈವ ಕೊಂಕಣ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಮಂ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾಲಿ
ಸುತಿರ್ದ೦ '
'Salvamalla (Jinadāsa) who ruled over the kingdom of Tuluva comprising Haiva-Konkana adorned with the city of Suvarnapuri from his throne at Nagira which was as it were its tilaka.'"*"* Nagira or Nagara (?) is in Mysore above the ghats; and Suvarnapuri is easily identified with Honawar (lit. 'the golden city') in North Kanara. Haiva or Haiga was the ancient name for the Southern part of Konkan comprising the two districts of North and South Kanara.225 Gersoppa, Bhatkal and Karkal were the three great centres of Jaina power within this area, and all of them are referred to in the inscriptions, the first being called Bhallatakipura. That the influence of its rulers must have reached as far north as Goa is indicated by an inscription of 1529 A.D. which reads:
ಶಕ ವರ್ಷ ೧೪೫೧ನೆಯ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಸಂವತ್ಸರದ ಶ್ರಾವಣ ಬ. ೧೩ಯು ಆದಿತ್ಯವಾರ........ವಿಜಯನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರು.......ಗುರುರಾಯರು ಸಂಗೀತಪುರವನ್ನು ಆಳುತ್ತಿರುವಲ್ಲಿ........ಗೋವರಾಜ್ಯದ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಷಷ್ಟ ಗ್ರಾಮಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದ ಅಷ್ಟ ಗ್ರಾಮದೊಳಗೆ.........
In the Saka year 1451 Virodhikṛtu, Śrāvana, bright 13 Sunday....When Kṛṣṇaraya was ruling at Vijayanagara.... when Gururaya was ruling over Sangitapura....in Aṣṭagrāma,
223 Sturrock, South Canara I, p. 55.
224 Of. Mangesh Rao, Mudûbidareya Hosabasadiya S'ila-sʻāsanagaļu, Twelveth Karnataka Sahitya Sammelan Report, 1927, p. 158; Mad. Orient Lib. Local Records XXXII.
225 Sturrock, loc. cit., p. 2..