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Jainism in Carl, Medieval Karnataka
eminence not only as an administrator but also as a military general who extended the territory of the Rattas and established their authority on a firm footing + Thus the Jainas adopted the method and tactics of the Brahmanas in order to maintain their social status at the royal courts
The patronage of the ruling class in early medieval times transformed the Jaina faith from a merc tissue of teachings into a living force in Karnataha politics“ A large number of Jaina epigraphs show that the people belonging to tlie upper strata of the Jaina society made the maximum number of endowments either to some Jaina establishments or particular Jaina monks The Kadambas the Gangas the western Calukyas, the Rastrakūtas the later western Calukyas, and the Hoysalas championed the cause of Jainism in Karnataka during the 5th-12th centuries They gave regular gifts for the upkeep of the saina monasteries and the benefit of the different sects of the Digambaras
The class of nobility consisting mainly of the feudatory vassals provincial governors and the military generals stood next to kings in patronısıng the Jaina faith in Karnataka The earliest example of such benefaction is furnished by the copper plate grant of the western Calukya king Pulakesin It refers to Samiyara, a feudatory of Pulahesin who built a Jaina temple in 489 in the city of Alaktanagara and gave certain lands to it 3 Although instances of benefactions made by feudatories to the Jainas and their establishments are meagre during the 6th 7th centuries their number is impressive during the 8th 12th centuries when every attempt was made by the feudal lords of Mysore to add to the strength of the Jaina dharma 4 Cali-Raja, who is styled as an adhiraja of the entire Ganga mandala in an inscription of the 9th century, was a feudatory of the Rastrakuta king Govinda III He is said to have requested his lord to grant the village of Jalımangala to a Jaina monk Arkahıstı as remuneration for removing the evil influence of Saturn from that of Vimaladitya the Governor of Kunangıl districts IPB Desai op cit P114
4 BA Saletore op cit p 87 2 B A Saletorc op cit p 87 5 EC xu 61 Gb pp 30 1 3 18 v1, no xlı, pp 709 15
