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JAINISM IN INDIA
85
The latter, evidently a Jaina, died about 974 A.D., taking the Jaina vow of sallekhanā. After Indra, the political power passed into the hands of the Western Caulukyas.
Jainism, during the period of Western Caulukya revival, ceased to be the conquering faith that it once was. If the traditions of the country are to be believed in, the Jaina statues and idols in bastis were thrown away and the idols of the pauraṇic gods were substituted. The rule of the Caulukyas was, however, shortlived; for, they were soon over-thrown by Kalacuris in 1126 A.D. These in their turn had only an ephemeral existence (1156 A.D.-1186 A.D.); yet, the short period of Kalacuri sway furnishes some points of interest to the student of Jaina history. We find that Vijjala, the greatest Kalacuri prince, was a Jaina by faith. This period is remarkable for the revival of the worship of Siva and for the rise of the Lingayat sect which, under the leadership of Vasava, a treacherous minister of Vijjala, persecuted the Jainas.
Whatever the expounders of Vasava Purāṇa might say, the fact seems to be beyond doubt that this Vasava brought about the assassination of his own master, the Jaina king Vijjala. According to Vijalaraja Carita, Vasava was hunted out of the country and in despair he threw himself into a well. But he soon obtained martyrdom at the hands of his followers.
There seems to be no doubt that the early Hoysalas of Mysore had been Jainas. They came to power on the subversion of the Gangas by the Colas, in 1004 A.D. Gradually expelling the Colas from the country which they had occupied, the Hoysalas became supreme in the land by the 12th century. They retained possession of the Belur Taluk of the Hasan district. The following story is narrated relating to the origin of the name Hoysala. One Sala, the supposed progenitor of the family, was receiving instruction in the temple of Vasantikadevi from a certain Jaina yati At that time a tiger was about to pounce upon the yati. The latter observing this handed his rod to Sala exclaiming "Hoy ! Sala!" (Oh Sala! strike). Immediately the tiger was killed. From this we have the name Poysala or Hoysala. Little is known of Sala but, his successor Vinayaditya seems to have been the disciple of Santideva Muni, a Jaina ascetic. Next in importance was the Hoysala king, Bittidevabittiga, the famous Visnuvardhana (1111 A.D.-1141 A.D.) who, it is said, had been converted to Vaisnavism by Ramanujacarya. As to the cause and history of his conversion, there exist many legendary accounts. This conversion of the king to Vaisnavism was a serious blow to the cause of the Jainas in South India. Nevertheless attempts For Private & Personal Use Only
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