Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

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recognized over a wide region. The Vijayanagara rulers sought her help in political and commercial matters. Agriculture and trade flourished during this period and Tulunadu witnessed an age of prosperity.
Gerusoppa played a significant role in the political, commercial and religious life of Tulunadu. An inscription describes Gerusoppa as India's city "with glittering towers with Jaina caityās, king's residences, abode of yogis, lines of merchant houses, with crowds of generous men devoted to acts of merit, congregations of gurus and yatis, bands of poets and scholars and innumerable bhavyās.
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The Gerüsoppa rulers were great patrons of Kannada literature, and the celebrated poet Sāļva who lived during the reign of Devaraya Odeya wrote Sāļva Bhārata, Rasaratnākara, Šārada Vilāsa, Vaidya Sangatya and other works. Another famous poet and scholar - Abhinava Vādi Vidyānanda lived in the court of Krishnadevarasa. He was the author of Kavyasara. He defeated many scholars and theologians in religious discourses at various courts of contemporary rulers.24 Ādiyappa, Pāyaṇa were other noted writers of this kingdom.
Gerūsoppa was a great cultural center in the medieval period, and the rulers were great devotees of Jainism. Poet Salva describes them as ratnatraya arādhakas, Jinadharma dvaja sthāpanācāryas and Hiranya caityālāya sthāpanācāryas. They commissioned many basadis. King Bhairva under the instruction of his preceptor Virasenācārya got the second storey of Tribhavana filaka cuḍāmaṇi basadi roofed with copper plates. His queen Nagaladevi commissioned the erection of the manasthambha in front of the basadi. His daughters Laxmidevi and Paṭṭadadevi provided for the daily food and special gifts to Jaina monks. The caturmukha basadi of Gerusoppa is an example of a glorious architectural tradition. Ratnatraya basadi is another marvelous structure. A manasthambha in front of this basadi contains five pillars, and it is one of the best mānastambhas of Karnataka. Queen Cennabhairadevi got installed the idols of Candranatha, Anantanatha and Pārsvanatha Jinas in the Hire-Parsva basadi. Most of these basadis were destroyed by the Portuguese.♣
Kongalvas
The Kongāļva royal family ruled over Arakalagūdu in Hassan district and Coorg region in Medieval period. They were feudatories of Colas and Hoysalas. The family appears in the eleventh century founded by Manija who exhibited exemplary bravery in a battle against the Cengalvas. Cola king Rājarāja-I who was impressed by the courage and the prowess of the heroic Manija instructed his son Rajendra Cola to grant Manija the village of Mallavi and the title of ksatriya sikhamani Kongāļva." Thus, Manija was entrusted with the administration of Yeļusavira-sime in north Coorg. He was also made dandanayaka over Ganga and Vengi mandalas.
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Manija was succeeded by Badiva Kongälva (1020-21 C.E. ).2 The next ruler of the family was Rajendra Kongalva, who was a very prominent king."7 He fought on the side of the Cola's against the Hoysalas and defeated Nrupakama in the battle. He was followed by Rajendra-I and Rajendra-II as rulers of the dynasty. At this juncture, the Kongāļvas had started to use the titles of the Imperial Colas. Rajendra Prithvi Kongāļva (1079-1085 C.E.) called himself Thribhuvanamalla Cola Kongāļva." 28 He also had the Calukya title to please the
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