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4. JAINISM IN KARNATAKA
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it is voiced in a good many inscriptions from Śravaņa Belgola. But the interpretation given by one of them differs when it says that he did not touch the dust of earth, because he was untainted by the dust of worldly attachment. In all these records Kondakunda is invariably compared with the Chāraņas.
SÕNDA: From Bīļigi we turn to Svādi or Sõndā in the Sirsi taluk. The small principality of Sõndă came into being in the early part of the 16th century A. D. Arasappa Nayaka II, son of Arasappa Nāyaka I, was its real founder who also contributed to its strength and prosperity in bis long reign of 43 years, from A. D. 1555 to 1598. Swayed by the powerful influence of the prevailing doctrine of Lord Jina, the early members of the house became the adherents of the Jains faith ;" and the preceptors of Sungitapura seem to have had their share in this religious conversion. ArasappNayaka Il had two daughters one of whom was given in marriage to the Biligi chief Ghantēndra II. This matrimonial alliance must have brought Arasappa Nāyaka Il into closer contact with Akalanka II and Bhattākalanka, who were wielding supreme influence in the court and royal household of the Biligi rulers. Arasuppa Nāyaka II readily accepted the spiritual leadership of these teachers and enlisted his allegiance to their religious preceptorship. This is attested by a copper plate record of Aragappa Nāyaka 11 duted in a. D. 1568 wherein he styles himself the favourite disciple of his Exalted Holiness the illustrious Akalankadēva.
During my visit to Sõndā in the month of January 1940, I explored its antiquities and collected some interesting Juina epigraphs found in the area. A Jaina matha under the supervision of a Jaina Svāmi was found in existence at this place. The matha owned a few copper plate records and a large number of manuscript works, which, for want of proper care and protection, were not preserved in a satisfactory state. Some of the documents and works, I was told, had been taken away for study and never returned. I was informed by the Svātniji that the matha was known as the Bhattākalanka Matha. According to another tradition hailing from reliable quarters, I learnt subsequently that it was also called Akalanka Matha. Besides this matha, I also inspected a Jaina temple surviving in a deserted and dilapidated condition. I
1 Ep. Carn., Vol. II, Nos. 64, 66, 117, etc. 2 Ibid., No. 264. 3 The following brief sketch of the history of the Sondå chiefs is based on epigraphi
cal sources and an extract account of the family. 4 An insoription at Gerasoppe records the death, by samadhi, of Såptaladevi who was
* granddaughter of Arasappodeya. This Arasappodeya was probably oue of the two
carly chiets of the name at Sonda. Vide Mysore Arch. Report, 1928, p. 99. 5 Copper plate records from Svădi, No. 8; Jaya Karnataka, 1995-26.
