Jainism and Karnataka Culture

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

Page 91

HISTORICAL SURVEY
59 * Settipura.' Evidently, not all who bore the name were traders. At least one is called ' Senapati' or commander of an army ; another is called ' Kudurê Dêvaņņa-sețți, which might possibly indicate proficiency in the equestrian art; a third is named 'Bhandāri' or treasurer. We have seen that a treasurer of Narasimha Ballāla, gave his name to the Bhandāri Basadi at Śravana Belgoļa. But the majority begin with place-names, whereas two bear the surnames of important families like Aluva and Cauter. However, more interesting than all else is the fact that in the absence of elders the representatives are mostly nephews or even a niece or a mother, but rarely a son. The few exceptions, however, serve to illustrate that among the contributors were persons representing both the Aliyasantānam as well as the ordinary laws of inheritance. 234 An Analysis of the names also points to a mixture of Aryan and Dravidian elements which must form the subject of special investigation. Brahma-setti, Padma-setti, Mahesa-setti, Nārāyaṇa-setti, etc., are clearly Brāhmanical names; whereas Pandi-sețţi Tammitti or Tammisetti, and Kujumba-sețți are purely Dravidian. The last one, Kujumba, is also the name of a devil worshipped in South Kanara. *97 Birumaņa is evidently derived from Brahma or Brāhmaṇa as Mainda from Manjunāth. Vardhamāna, Gummața, and possibly śānti-sețți are the only ones which are unmistakeably Jaina names. However, this is a digression.
Kärkal, Bårkūr and Bhatkal were other places of considerable Jaina power and interest. Of these, the first was the seat of the Bairāsu Wodeyars who claimed descent from Jinadatta of the Candra-varisa or Lunar Race. Their authority, according to Sturrock extended from Kārkal to Kumta (in North Kanara ). 928 Their most monumental work is the great colossus still standing at their capital, erected by Vira Pandya, as indicated by an inscription at its foot. It states :1" Vira
236 Cf. Sturrock, op. cit., p. 158 237 Ibid., p. 138. 238 Ibid., pp. 61, 64.