Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 29

Jinamaanjari, Volume 21, No. 1, April 2000
JAINISM UNDER KALACURIS AND THE SÉUNAS
Prof. Nagarajiah, Hampa, Bangalore
The predominant Cāļukya kingdom which held its sway from C.E. 973-74 to C.E. 1150 and also for another three decades with a small break, almost unabated, suffered a jolt from inside and a revolt from outside. Taila-III was defeated and captured by Prolarāja, king of Warangal. Ceasing the opportunity, Bijjala alias Bijjana - a subordinate and related to the imperial family matrimonially - usurped the throne in C.E. 1156 and established himself at Anộigeri, a Jaina seat, as his capital.
It is said, and wisely so, that history repeats itself. What the Duke Bijjana did was a rehearsal of what Tailapa had done to the Rāstrakūtas earlier in CE 97374. Army General Rēcana, who had the other two aliases of Rêcarasa and Rêcaprabhu, was of surpassing excellence of this period. A passionate Jaina, he developed the domination of Jaina sway during the period. He was the was son of Nāgambikā and Nāirāiyaņa, and husband of Gowri. He had inherited the wisdom and prowess of his great grand fathers - Dallappa and Mallapa of Attimabbe, who had helped Cāļukya king Tailapa-II to usurp the Rāştrakūta throne in C.E. 973-74.
Army General Rēcaņa, who had the other two aliases of Rēcarasa and Rēcaprabhu, was of surpassing excellence of this period. When the Cāļukya monarchy was tottering to its fall, he guided and ably assisted Bijjaļa. Thus, the Kalacuris emerged all of a sudden, like a bolt from the blue, under the rebellious chief Bijjaļa alias Bijjaņa, giving a severe blow to his Cāļukya overlords. Contemporary charters applaud his key role in initiating Bijjaļa. Rēcaņa, the army general and the Duke of Nāgarakhanda, who had a number of titles but Vasudhaika-bāndhava (the only kinsman of the world) was popular, became the real architect of the Kalacuri sovereignty.
Bijjaļa declared himself as an independent ruler initially from Anộigere and later from Mangaļavēdhe, and finally to Kalyāṇa as his capital; all these places being the pivot of Jaina church.
Historinas differ about the affiliation of Kalacuri soverigns. Whether they were, in the context of their existence in Karnataka, Jainas or Saivas, or the disciples of Kalamukha sect is a million dollar question. According to Viraśaiva and Jaina literary sources, Bijjaļa was born at Ingalēśvara - a Jaina centre; was a Jain; and a grandson of Vikramāditya-VI from maternal side.
During his rule king Bijjaļa commissioned Jaina edifice at Cipparagitirtha, a Jaina piligrimage place. An ancient Jaina house of prayer at Māļakavate i Solapur district, Maharāștra was renovated. To this Pārśva temple, his queen consort Rambhādevi made endowment in C.E. 1160. In the following year, Bijjaļa gave gifts to Māņikya Bhattāraka Jinālaya at Kannadige olim Bābānagara, for renovation and painting.
Kalidevisetti installed catur-vimsi Tirthankara image, and commissioned a cathedral at Mantagi in Hanagal taluk. The donee was Nāgacandra Bhattāraka. Arasigavuņdi and Nāgagāvunda gave grants and gift of land in C.E. 1168 to the