Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 50

Jinamañjari, Volume 21, No.1, April 2000
JAINISM UNDER MINOR DYNASTIES OF KARNATAKA
Later Gangas Mandali-1000, Sāntaras and Rattas of Saundatti.
Dr. M. Prasanna Kumar, Mysore
There exists a scope for further research to probe the work of minor dynasties in the propagation of Jainism. The present paper makes an attempt to briefly sketch the growth of Jainism in the territories ruled by the minor dynasties of Karnataka.
These three dynasties were the feudatories mainly of the Rāştrakūtas, Cāļukyas and Hoysaļas, though some of their rulers may also be traced to the Vijayanagara period. They mainly ruled from 9th or 10th Century to 12th or 13th Century. The first two of the dynasties were concentrated in the present Shimoga district and the Rattas of Saundatti ruled in the modern district of Belgaum in northern Karnataka.
Later Gangas: Mandaļi-1000 After the main line Gangas had lost their political power, the Later Gangas began their rule from C. E. 936 to 1218 in Mandaļi-1000. It was a small principality comprising the present day Shimoga and Bhadrāvati taluks and parts of Śikāripura, Honnaļi, Cannagiri, Narasimharājapura, Tarikere, Tirthahalli, Sāgar, Soraba and Hosanagara taluks. The Mandali Gangas though had limited resources they played a significant role in the religious and social life of the people of Maņdaļi. They were vassals of Rāşțrakūtas, Cāļukyas of Kaļyāṇa and later of Kalachuris.
The rule of the Later Gangas was a period of Jain ascendancy in Karnataka Jainism. This religion was patronised by the ruling kings of major dynasties such as the Rāştrakūtas, Later Cāļukyas and Hoysaļas. As a result Jainism naturally became popular with the masses. A large number of Jain basadis and monuments were constructed all over the land and many rulers and many officials and commoners made liberal grants to them.
Mandali king Brammadēva gave a grant in C.E. 1054 to Mandali - tirthada-basadi which was caused in C. E. 350 by Dadiga and Mādhava of the main branch of the Gangas. As a crown prince, he renovated this basadi, located at Ededore-70. and named it Pattada-basadi or the crown basadi. He endowed it with land to ensure its smooth running. His wife Gaņga-mahādevi was a devout Jain and also the king and their four sons. The first son Mārasimha succeeded his father. He gave lands in the village Ardravaļļi to the Pattada-basadi in C. E. 1065. Again in C.E. 1070, along with his younger brother Nanniya Ganga made land gift in Siriyū to this temple. After succeeding his brother, Nanniya Ganga gave grant of shop-tax and customs dues to the basadi commissioned by one of his officers named Nokkayya, who was a senior Perggade. Nanniya Ganga was succeeded by his younger brother Kali-Ganga-II who made grant of land to the crown temple. His younger brother Bhujabala Ganga Permādidēva also gave grants to this basadi, for temple rituals and offering food to the ascetics. He also
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