Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 45

and their repairs on Candragiri hill at Sravaņbelgoļa. He was stated to have followed monastic practices in the later period of his life. He attained samādi maraņa at holy Jain center, Mūdabidre in South Canara.
Cidānanda Kavi. The Munivamsābhyudaya composed by him offers valuable information about the prevalence of the Jaina influence in the court of king Cikkadevarāja Wodeyar. The work reveals that the Poet was not merely a literary giant of the time, but also was the chief political advisor of the king. His knowledge of politics and philosophy mastered through the famous work Nitivyākyamrita of Jaina Ācārya Sõmadēvasūri served Mysore kingdom very well. Poet Cidānanda, who was also well trained in philosophical matters and administration, was named by Cikkadevarāja Wodeyar to the Pontifical seat of Sravaṇabeļgoļa when the position became vacant on account of the death of the previous Pontiff, Vimālācārya Cărukirti Panditācārya at Somawārpet in Coorg.
Aņņaiah Sețți was a prominent figure among the officials of the kingdom. Cikkadevarāja Wodeyar sent him as a member of the Delegation of Mysore kingdom to the court of Aurangazeb at Delhi. As a delegate Karañika Lingarāja. Later, he was appointed as the Chief Mint Officer of Mysore kingdom. Then the king Cikkadevarāja. was stated to have made the land grants to the basadi at Maleyūr at the instance of Annaiah Sețți.
Being a pious Jain, Annaiah Setti utilized his wealth and position for the cause of Jainism. He commissioned kalyāņa at Śravaņabelgoļa and named after the king. He also caused renovation of many basadis around Mysore.
Kāļļiah Setti was the celebrated royal merchant during the reign of Cikkadevarāja Wodeyar and he had established himself at Srirạngapatna. From Rajāvalikatha it is clear that he commissioned the silamaya matha at Sravanabeļgo!a.
Biļikere sāntarāja Pandita was a prominent member of the Jaina community and a Jain activist who strove hard for the cause of Jainism during the period of Krishnarāja Wodeyar-III. He approached the British Resident Officer at Srirangapatna for the renovation project of Ādinātha basadi at the place. Towards the project cost, Rs.500 was sanctioned by the British officer and the additional amount required was raised from the Jaina residents of Säligrāma, a town situated west of Srirangapatna at about 80 kms. This activity indicates that the Jaina residents of Sāligrāma, who in most part, had settled down there owing to political, social and religious disadvantages at Srirangatpatna. Biļikerre - which lies between the principal route of Srirangapatna, Mysore and Sāligrāma - from where the Jain activist Sāntarāja Pandita resided, was a famous Jain center known from the times of Cengāļva and Kongāļva rulers.
Devacandra was a prominent scholar hailing from Maleyūr in Mysore district.. He was gifted with unquestionable literary skill. He composed many works - Rāmakathāvatāra, Sumeru Sațaka, Bhaktisāra, Sațakatraya, Sastrasāra, Laghuvrtti, Pravacana Siddhānta, Dravyasamgraha, Dvadasānuprekse, Dhayanasāmrājya, Adhyātmavicăra and Rājavaļikathāsāra.
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