Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

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

Page 73

Jinamañjari, Volume 21, No. 1, April 2000
CLOISTERS OF JAINA FRIARS IN KARNATAKA
Prof. Nagarajaiah, Hampa, Bangalore
The nature and contribution of the Jaina monasteries in Karnataka, functioning for over a millennium has remained largely unexamined. Such a study would require a monograph in itself. Certain significant socio-historical and socioreligious issues which revolve around the basic question of just how Nirgrantha faith has been able to survive and prosper upto the present day will be examined here. Definite nature, characters and the scope of the cloisters of Jaina monks are not fully known due to the paucity of details, and, whatever available is employed to reconstruct its visage and scope.
Some of the places of Jaina mathas which were once in the geographical territories of Karnataka are now situated in Andhra Pradesh and Maharāṣtra. Konakonda, Rāyadurga, Kulpak, Penukonda and Ratnagiri - important flourishing seats of Jaina monastery are in Andhra Pradesh, and Kolhāpur and Nandēd are in Mahārāstra.
Mathas, as the monasteries are popularly referred, were the main centers of learning. "Jaina monasteries continued to be public schools and universities for the greater part of India" (Havell: 156]. Such major śramaņa seats had developed at a number of places in all directions of Karnataka. The śramaņa movement opened its ranks to members of any age group or caste, even to women. This uncurbed line of thinking took the form of greater popularity among the common people. It reaped the fruits of material benefits, and gained easy access to the machinery of political power.
The relationship of the palace, the royal house of the ruling dynasty, and the Jaina monastery was so cordial that the endowments to the Jaina mathas and mendicant community were free from annual customs and duties. Hundreds of inscriptions repeatedly speak of such tax-free gifts to Jaina sanctuaries and cloisters of monks and nuns.
It is interesting and worth contemplating to note the subjects taught in the Jaina convent, recorded in Ārādhana Karņāta Tika by Bhrajişņu (C. 800 C.E.), an important commentator and author of his age. It is a lucid commentary on Aradhana, a Jaina text of canonical tradition, authored by Sivakoti alias Sivarya or Sivajja. (C. 2nd cent C.E.) written in Apabhramsa. According to his list, the curriculum of advanced studies was so wide as to include Veda, Vyākaraña, Dharmaśāstra, Jyotiša, Mimāmsa, Candas, Nataka, Nyaya, Nighaṇtu, Samudrika, aśva-gajaśāstra, sāhitya and Smritis; one of the four Āgamas, grammar, a code of Hindu law, astronomy, discussion on the art of poetry, prosody, dr conduct, lexicography, palmistry, veterinary science, ancient legendary, literature and mythology. Bhrajişņu had the first hand knowledge of the cloisters of monks that existed during the Rāştrakūta period, himself being a pupil who studied and stayed in a monastery at Maļkhēd. Specialists were available on all these subjects
and some of the senior professors were equally competent to teach on more than Jain Education International For Private 65.- ersonal Use Only