Jainism and Mahavira

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Digambar Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Sanskaran Samiti

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built there huge Jaina temples like Adataraditya, Satyavakya, Candraprabha, Ratta, etc. Vatapi, Ehol, Meguli were also Jaina centres of this period when Pulakesi First, Kirtivarman, and Ravikirti constructed Jaina temples.
Andhra Pradesa has been a stronghold centre of Jainism. Acarya Kundakunda (Ist C.A.D.), the spiritual leader of the time hails from Kondakunda situated on the boarder of Andhrapradesha. King Vishnuvardhan of Calukyas, Akalavarsa, Amoghavarsa, and Krashnaraja of Rashtrakutas, Bhima, Ganga Vijayaditya, Durgaraj etc. of Vengis, Tailapa, Vikramaditya of Badami Calukyas, some kings of Velanatichoda period patronised Jainism by way of constructing temples, Vasadis and Vidyapeethas. Some of them, afterwards, were occupied by Virasaivaitas and Lingayatas, who have been great destructers of Jaina monuments and the community as well.
Jainism in Karnataka goes back at least to Bhadrabahu and Candragupta Maurya who migrated to South India via Ujjain with twelve thousand disciples due to severe calamity and famine in the North. Gangavadi dynasty was established by Simhanandin, the Jainacarya. Jainism was its state religion for about seven hundred years during which hundreds of Jaina monuments were erected by the kings. Pujyapada, Prabhacandra, Jinasena, Gunanandi, Patrakesari, Puspadanta, Vidyanada, Anantavirya, Joindu etc. get the patronage of the dynesty. Of the kings the name of Racamalla Satyavakya may be specially mentioned under whose reign Camundaraya, his great minister erected the collossal statue of Gomatesvara Bahubali, the unparallel statue in the world. After Rashtrakutas Jainism got set back. One Vasava murdered his master Vijjala, the Kalacuri Jaina king and perished Jainism and its adherents. He established an independent sect named Lingayata and persecuted the Jainas. From Jaina archaeological standpoint, the main sites are Mangal, Nandidurga, Panditarahalli, Candrasala vasadi. Amarapur. Arkettar. Sarangipattam, Halebid, Kelasaur Aihole, Marol, Honwad, Honnur, Kalholi, Mulguna, Lakkundi, Nagire, Biligi are the main places where the Jaina monuments are richly available.
Jainism entered in Tamilnadu most probably from Kalinga in about 4th c.B.C. Visakhacarya proceed to Cola and Pandya countries with the entire Munisangha. It can be supported by the caverns containing beds carved out in the rock found in hills and
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