Jinamanjari 1999 09 No 20

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 57

Of the many Jain rulers of Tulunādu, which forms the western part of modern Karnataka in South India, Ajila was one of the prominent dynasties. As stated earlier, the Ajila capital was Veņūr. The nearby town of Aladangadi was also an important place during their time. Ajila descendants presently live in the palace at Aladangadi, which now is just a small village in the modern administrative taluk of Beltangadi in the district of Mangalore.
Aladangadi which is also known as Aluvapura, Alvadangadi, and Aruva is located on the banks of river Phalgun. The political prominence of Aladangadi is first mentioned in an inscription from Belur, dated 1415 C.E. According to it, the Ajila descendant, Somanatha Birumanna, a feudatory king at Aluvapura, made a donation to Chennakeshava temple at Belur. From this inscription it may be noted that Aladangadi was an important political center in the beginning of the 15th century. The copper-plate inscription dated 1504 C.E. from Hosa basadi in Mudabidre also refers to Aluvadangadi as an important center of the Ajilas.
Another inscription dated 1537 C.E. from Shantinatha temple in Veņūr refers to Aladangadi under the Ajilas. Further, it notes that the feudatory Somanatha, son of Honnammadevi, was ruling at Aladangadi when the Ajila king, Salva Pandya Devarasa, was reigning from Veņūr. Honnammadevi was the sister of Ajila Pandya, and her son Somanatha was his son-in-law. The tradition of inheritance of the day was to pass on to the daughter and not to the son, Somanatha was at Aladangadi being groomed to take charge of the Ajila power after Pandyarasa.
Ajila country consisted of twelve māganēs (centers) - Venur, Aruva, Sulkeri. Kēla, Eradur, Bellur, Ajjibettu, Irvattur, Perinje, Savanālu, Nārāvi and Panjikallu. During the coronation of an Ajila, certain privileges were given to the elders from these centers. The elder from Aruva had the privilege to lead the prince to the throne; elder from Bellur had the privilege of handing coronation ring to the king; Perinje elder had the privilege of handing the sword and the premiership was given to the family member of Devunayaka of Veņūr. This was the Ajila proclamation.
Although the Ajilas followed the Jain faith, they nevertheless adopted Mahalingesvara and Somanatha as their family deities. Their royal rings bearing these deities, and are still preserved at Aladangadi palace, which was built in 1904. The ancient palace, which was on the banks of Phalguni river, has not survived the ravages of time.
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