Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 53

sandhi (who grasped and committed to memory what ever was recited), Vādirājadēva had mastered logic so well that he became famous as Sattarka-malla, Jagadeka-malla, Ajitasena had the titles Šabdacaturmukha, Tärkika-cakravarti; and Vādibha-simha was famous for his erudition, exposition and debate. Among the Jain preceptors of the time mention may be made of Kanakasena-bhattāraka who was the guru of Rāya-Rācamalla-dēva, Vijaya-bhattāraka who was the guru of Rakkasa-Ganga-Permmādi, Catala-dēvi, Bira-dēva and Nanni Sāntara. AjitasenaPandita-dēva was the guru of Pampādēvi, Šrivallabhavikrama Sāntara and Bacaladēvi. The service rendered by these Jain preceptors to Jainism was so great that the Sāntaras became famous as champions of Jainism, surpassing their over lords in making the faith popular among the masses.
Ragas of Saundatti The earliest epigraph dated C. E. 875 - found in the Ankeşvara temple - of Saundatti provides information on the Rațța genealogy. It refers to Rāştrakūta rule of king Krishna-II and gives an account of the Rațța dynasty at Saundatti founded by Medara and the successive rulers.
The Ratļas were rulers of a small principality of Koondi or Kuhundi-3000 which extended over the present taluks of Pärasgad, Gokāk, Hukkeri, Rāybāg, Chikkodi, Sampgaon, Mudhol and Jamkhandi of Belguam and Bijapur districts. They were probably a local Reddy tribe or caste. They were heralded as rulers of the territory in public by trivaļi ( musical instruments), sindura ( elephant) was the crest, and suvarņa-garuda-dhvaja (golden garuda) was the flag.
Rațțas were the feudatories of Rāştrakūtas, later those of Cāļukyas of Kalyāņa and then those of Kalachuris. They became independent after the fall of Kalacuris in C.E. 1165. They ruled from the last quarter of the 10th C. E to the middle of 13th - C.E 980 to C. E. 1237 and were overthrown by the Yādavas of Dēvagiri. King Kārtavirya-I fixed the boundaries of the kingdom and was called mūrusāviradayya (lord of 300) which gives an idea of the extent of his territory.
The period of the dynasty was the bey day of Jainism in Karnataka when a majority of major and minor dynasties patronized this religion. The Rattas had Jain leanings from the beginning and have built many monuments in its honor. Sāntivarman caused a Jain temple at Saundatti and gave it a grant in C. E. 980 Merada, father of Prithvirāma (C.E. 1050-96) was a Jain and Indrakirti-swamy was his guru. Sena-II who succeeded Prithvirāma gave a grant to a basadi at Saundatti. He also revived the grant of another basadi. His successor KārtaviryaIII made a grant to Ādinātha Jinālaya in C.E. 1171 His successor Lakshmi-dēvaI who ruled in early 13th century commissioned a basadi. Kārtavirya-IV gave a grant in C. E. 1201 to Ādinātha basadi at Rāybāg. His minister commissioned Ratta Jinālaya dedicated to Sāntinātha at Belguam in C.E. 1204. It became famous as Kamala basadi in Belguam fort.
The work of popularizing Jainism was undertaken by Rasta queens and also by many Jain preceptors. Rasta ueens like Bhāgala-dēvi (w. Kārtivirya-II), Padmala-dēvi (w. Kārtavirya-III), Ecala-dēvi (w. Kārtivirya-IV) and Candaladēvi or Candrika or Candrikādēvi (w. Lakshmidēva-I) had taken active role in popularizing their Jaina faith. More importantly the Jaina preceptors played a prominent role in the spread of Jainism, beginning from the Ratta rule.
The contemporary epigraphs mention names such as Mulļabhațjāaraka - a teacher Jain Education International For Private 50'ersonal Use Only