Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 46

The Rājavaļikathāsāra is the most popular composition which contains the most valuable historical material. Devachandra was stated to have assisted Col. Mackenize to record many prevalent oral traditions, collect inscriptions and other useful historical material.
Col. Mackenzie went to Mysore after the fall of Tippu Sultan. He was to collect material and study the existing conditions in Mysore kingdom. On recognizing the rich knowledge of Devacandra, he requested him to accompany him while on tour in Mysore. He even requested him to provide him with the documents of all the Jaina customs and traditions. Further more, he was stated to have even invited him to Calcutta. Perhaps, Mackenzie intended to avail of the knowledge of Devacandra to compile the history of the Jains under the auspices of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. However, it is apparent that Devacandra was inspired by Col. Mackenzie to write Rajavalikathāsāra and Krishnarāja Wodeyar-III.
The Rājavalikathāsāra is a historical compendium of the Jaina Political and Socio-religious events relating to the history of Mysore up to the middle of the 19th century. The validity of this work cannot be questioned as its contents are further substantiated from the inscriptions and other literary evidence.
Sravanabelgola and The Wodeyars The benevolent Wodeyar rulers of Mysore extended their benefactions to Sravaņabeļgoļa and in their times, they were the chief contributors to the survival and development of the matha. Sravanabelgoļa is an ancient Jaina site beginning with the Maurya history in 4th B.C.E., and medieval history related to the dynasties of the Gangas and the Rāstrakūtas, and the mahāmastakābhiseka events.
The earliest reference to mahāmastakābhiseka is found in a lithical record dated C. E. 1398. Another inscription of C. E. 1500 also provides details about the payments made to different personalities on the eve of the ceremony. On the basis of these inscriptions it may be stated that the mahāmastakābhiseka ceremony was performed during that stated year. Details about the ceremonies performed during the early Wodeyars period are not available. Poet Pañcabāņa in Bujabali Carita refers to the ceremony performed by Sāntavarṇi in C.E.1614. It is known that in the Rāja Wodeyar period, his minister Dodda Sāntaiah went to Sravanabelgoļa with the army to facilitate the Bhttāraka śāntavarpi alias Câarukirti Panditācārya to conduct the ceremony and to maintain peace and order.
The Wodeyar rulers have spared no pains either in the excellent upkeep of the glorious Jaina antiquities at Sravaņabeļgoļa or in providing all facilities to pilgrims who throng to the place at the time of mahāmastakābhiseka. The palace honors sent by Krishnarāja Wodeyar-IV on the occasion of the mahāmastákbhiseka ceremonies in the years 1909, 1925 and in 1940 are recorded. His signature on Candragiri marks his pilgrimage to Sravanabelgoļa.
The intimate relations between Jainas and the rulers of Mysore was well expressed by His Highness the Mahāraja Krishnarāja Wodeyar-IV who delivered inaugural speech on 14th March 1925 to The All India Jain Conference. “The land of Mysore symbolizes Gommata's spiritual empire, as Bhāratavarśa stands for the empire of his brother Bharata. Jainism has not only found a second birth place and home in Mysore, Jainism also, has repaid the debt. For Jainism, it did create
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