Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

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JAINISM DURING VIJAYANAGARA PERIOD Prof. Nagarjiah Hampana, Bangalore
Jinamañjari, Volume 20, No.1 April 2000
Jainism had played sheet-anchor and conspicuous role of a state religion during the sway of the Gangas, the Early Kadambas, the Rāṣṭrakūtas, the Calukyas of Bādāmi and Kalyāṇa and the Hoysalas. Although the Jaina influence during the Vijayanagara period was much less on the ruling family, the contribution of Jainism to the political history and cultural dimension of Karnataka continued.
A delicate perception will reveal that Jaina church was not allowed to exercise powerful influence as it effectively did for over a millenium. The reign of Vijayanagara kingdom was a testing period for the non-Brahmanical sects. Buddhism had disappeared from the subcontinent, but the fortunes of Jainism as non-Vedic śramaṇa tradition was sustained. How it was able to survive and prosper during this era is interesting.
Going through available faithful contemporary epigraphic sources, Jainism was convulsed under the fanatic fury of the period. This is realized if we keenly observe into the status, career and performance of Jaina church during this epoch making age. It should be remembered that the Jainas, by this time had exhausted all their avenues and were reduced to a state of minority from its premier position. The militant aggression of the Saivas under the leadership of Ādayya, Viruparasa and Goggayya, Jaina society had liquidated by lakhs of its votaries proselytizing to Virasaivism and losing its numerical strength. Jainas were superseded by the Saivaites and the Srivaisnavas got the opportunity during the Vijayanagara period.
Minor disputes were taking place frequently at different places in the kingdom. After circa 12th century, only some Saivas and Virasaivas were aggressive on the Jaina church. Now it was Srivaisnavas turn.
Dispute Resolution: Jainas Receive No Redress
At the very beginning of Vijayanagara rule, there was an attack on the properties of the Jaina community. A charter of Tirthahalli No. 197 of C.E. 1363, records an encroachment on cultivable land which was the property of Heddūrnāḍ Taḍatāla Pārsvanatha basadi. The dispute was resolved in a meeting held in the presence of Mahāpradhāna Naganna. Jaina leader Mallappa and some other leaders of Jaina sangha participated in the meeting held at the townhall of Maleyarajya capital. It did not bring an end of the dispute. A constant feud and a simmering discontent between the Jainas and Śrivaisņavas was lurking in the dark. They were waiting for an opportunity to strike which erupted to the surface at Kalleha olim Kalya town near Bangalore, in C.E. 1368. A dispute between the bhavyas the Jainas and the bhaktas the Śrivaisṇavas (followers of Rāmānujācārya) came into play over the traditional rights and privileges in respect of Jaina religious performance. The use of five great musical instruments
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