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Significance of New Inscriptions from Koppaļa, Karnataka
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the appreciation of scholars and poets. After freely distributing her entire property, said adieu to every day worldly life. She took the vow of sallekhanā, achieved the three jewels, and met her end in the manner precribed in the Ārādhanā text at Koppala in the year Saka 931 (1009 C. E).
9.8.1. [K. 60] This is the first and the only inscriptional reference to
Bijjāmbikā as the daughter of Būtuga and Padmāvati (Padmabbe). Padmāvati is elsewhere mentioned as Padmabbarasi (SII. XI-i. 38. 950 C. E]. So far, it was known that Būtuga had only one daughter (Kundana-sāmidevi), who was elder to all his children except Maruladeva, who was the eldest among all his six children. But the present inscription has supplied an extra information that Būtuga had one more daughter (Bijjāmbă).
9.8.2. Both mother Padmăvati (Padmabbarasi, K. 40) and daughter
Bijjāmbikā (K. 60) had died at Koppala by the rite of sallekhanā. Sisters Kundanasāmidevi and Bijjämbikā, and the co-wives Padmāvati and Revakanimmadi, similarly have met with the coveted end at Koppala. (The royal ladies, as is surprisingly clear, were equally firm-willed in ritually meeting the death as prescribed by the sacred text.)
9.9.
Paragraphs from 9.1 to 9.8.2 provide reliable historical information casting fresh light on the history of the Ganga family, facilitating an authentic reconstruction of the family tree of Būtuga. There were a good number of luminaries in the royal house of the Gangas who heralded the glory of Jainism. Būtuga bequeathed a rich legacy for his successors to emulate and keep the lamp of syādvāda burning bright.
9.9.1. Būtuga himself was well-versed in Nirgrantha religion. His consorts
and his daughters were the benefactors of the Nirgrantha Church [IWG : 1984 : No. 138 : 962 C. E. PP. 411-28]. Būtuga's sons, Maruladeve II alias Punuseya-ganga [EC. VIII (1902) Nagara 35. 1077, Hombuja (Shimoga dt); El. XXXVI. No. 13. 963. C. E.; MAR 1921. PP 8-16, 962-63 C. E], Mārasimha II [SII. XI. 42. 970. Savadi. P. 28.; EC. IV (R) Ch. 138. 965; ibid., No. 79. 971-72; EC. II (R)=64=(59). 975. PP. 20-22 etc), Rājamalla [EC. VIII (BLR). Nr. 35.
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