Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 10

Jinamaañjari, Volume 21, No.1, April 2000
Jainism and the Early Kadambas and the Caļukyas of Bādami Dr. K.S. Shivanna, Mysore
The Kadamba monarchy ruled from C.E. 345 to 530 C.E. Its capital was Banavasi situated in the modern North Canara district. Mayurasharma founded the political power of the dynasty and ruled up to 360 C.E. Important rulers were Kongavarma, Bhagirathavarma and Raghupativarma (360-425), Kakutsavarma (425-450) and Ravivarma (485-519). Their territory was comprised mostly of modern districts of North and South Canara and Shimoga.
The Calukyas of Badāmi or Early Western Cāļukyas ruled from 6th to 8th C.E. and their capital was Badāmi in the modern district of Bijapur. They were probably peasants before their advent to the position of warriors and empirebuilders. Jayasimha was the founder of the dynasty. Mangaleśa (C.E. 597-610) and Pulukeśi-II (C. E. 609-625) were important rulers. Their territory included northern and parts of southern Karnataka in the Tungabhadra river area.
An examination of the growth of Jainism under these dynasties of Karnataka cover the period from 4th to 8th C. E.
Jainism had come into existence in Karnataka much before these two dynasties and even before the arrival of Buddhism. The names of Candragupta Maurya of Maurya dynasty of North India and Bhadrabāhu, his religious preceptor, were associated with the foundation of Jainism in Karnataka in 4th B.C. E. Its popularity in the first century B.C. E. may be understood by the fact that Acārya Kundakunda was the preceptor of a Sātavāhana prince.' Thus, Jainism existed in Karnataka for nearly one thousand years, and during the Kadamba-Cāļukya period, Jaina faith made further progress.
Jaina scholars were in the service as advisers in the administrative machinery of the Kadambas. For example Kumāradatta, a Jaina scholar was an adviser to Kadamba Ravivarma (C. E. 485-519) and the latter took his advise on the matters related to religious affairs. Queen Māladevi was a patron of Jaina matha at Kuppatur. It is said that Jain monks belonging to various sanghas like Śvetaputas, Yapaniyas. Kurchakas and Nigranthas were in position of influence in the Kadamba administration.
Celebration of Jinendra utsava in karthikamāsa was a grand event in Kadamba capital Banavāsi. For this purpose, necessary things were collected and stocked for the occasion by the order of king Ravivarma.3 The rulers commissioned Jain-basadis. The Gudlnapur inscription refers to Kama-jinalaya at this place commissioned by Kadamba ruler. King Mrigesavarma had commissioned a basadi at Halasi in Belgaum district. On these accounts and other examples, J.F. Fleet and K.B. Pathak have concluded that Kadamba rulers were Jains." Umbali - land grants free from all taxes by Kadamba rulers provided economic strength for the growth of Jainism in Kadamba country."
Following the footsteps of the Kadambas, the early Western Cāļukyas of Bādāmi and their officers patronized Jainism in various ways. Jain monk Udayadevapandita, disciple of Pujyapada, was the preceptor of Vinayaditya (C. E. For Private & Personal Use Only