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380
JAINISM IN SOUTH INDIA
Kannada. The epigraph is not dated, but it may be ascribed roughly to the 12th century A. D. on palaeographical considerations. The epigraph is on the whole fairly preserved though slightly damaged in some places. We may notice the observance of the orthographical rule of doubling the consonant in a conjunct letter after r. The record contains a few inaccuracies of spelling.
The epigraph states that the image of Chauvisa Tirthakara was dedicated as a gift to the Jaina temple erected by Mādaņa Daņāyaka by Bopaņņa, & resident of the illustrious holy town of Kopaña on the occasion of consummation of certain religious vows and performances. Mādaņa Daņāyaka was a constituent of the illustrious Mūla Samgha and Dēsiya gaña. Bopaņņa was son of the parents, Emmeyara Prithigauda and Malauve, and a lay disciple of the illustrious divine Māghanandi Siddhānta-chakravarti, bearing the titles, Rāya rājaguru (royal preceptor of the princes) and Maņdalāchārya (ecclesiastical head of the province).
The location of the temple to which the image was presented is not specified in the record. But as the image was found at Yalbargi, we might safely assume that the temple was situated in the town of Yalbargi itself. When vandalism became rampant and the temple that gave protection to the image succumbed to the forces of destruction, the image appears to have been carefully removed and buried underground with a view to preserving it from the tragic fate of mutilation by its faithful devotees. Yalbargi was the capital of the feudatory governors of the Sinda house, some of whom at least appear to have been great patrons of the Jaina faith. This place is replete with Jaina antiquities. The importance of the place as a great centre of Jainism is further attested by the fact that Bopaņņa who was himself a resident of the great holy town of Kopaņa made a votive offering to a Jaina temple at Yalbargi.
Mādaņa Daņāyaka who was responsible for the erection of the temple at Yalbargi was in all probability a military officer under the Sinda rulers of Yalbargi. Māghanandi Siddhānta-chakravarti appears to have been a great pontiff holding the high position as the ecclesiastical head of a large part of the country. But unfortunately, in the absence of specific date and other details in regard to his spiritual lineage, headquarters, etc., we are not in a position to identify him from among a large number of divines bearing the name, who are known to have lived at this period. This epigraph is one of the early instances wherein occur the pontifical titles, Rāyarājaguru and Mandalāchārya, as applied to Māghanandi, which came into vogue more prominently during the subsequent period.
The epigraph contains an allusion to Kopbal, the great centre of Jainism, which is mentioned as the illustrious holy town (tirtha) of Kopaña'. This deserves to be noted.
