Kevalaodhi Buddhist And Jaina History Of Deccan Vol 2

Author(s): Aloka Parasher Sen, B Subrahmanyam, E Siva Nagi Reddy
Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan

Page 86

288
Kevala-Bodhi-Buddhist and Jaina History of the Deccan
Dādāpuram was turned into a center of all religions. Kundavai built Sive, Vişnu and Jina temples at Dādāpuram. They were known as Ravikula Maņickēśvaram, Kundavai Vinnagaram and Kundavai, Jinālaya respectively. The lake dug by her was known as Kundavaipērēri. Many grants were made for the proper upkeep of the temples at Dādāpuram. It is interesting to note that during the rule of Rājarāja I, even in small villages, there was religious harmony and three or four religions co-existed together.
Following in the footsteps of his father Rājēndra Chola I also patronized Jainism. Three epigraphs of Rajendra Chola l's reign are found in Tirumalai. The first two records dated around 1024 AD tell us about various conquests of Rājēndra I. Iļayamaņimangai showed keen interest in this temple. She donated sixty käsu for the perpetual lamp to Ādinātha also called Ārambananditēvar. It is interesting to note that this lady was keen on granting for lighting the perpetual lamp offered earlier by a Pallava queen Chinnavai. In the same year (1024 AD) Samundappai, wife of Nannappaiyan of Malliyur gave twenty käsu to the Tirumal temple for a perpetual lamp and ten käsu for daily offerings. This record clarifies that the Tirumalai temple belonged to Vaikavur, a palsichandam in Mukaināļu in Pangalanādu in Jayankonda Choļamandalam.
A broken stone inscription in front of the Sikhāmaņinātha temple in Tirumalai refers to the exemption of same taxes on the temple lands, and some of Rājēndra I's officials with his titles. A Parākēsari's epigraph from Tirakkôl in North Arcot District refers to the Gangāsūraperumpalli in Rājēndrapuram under the control of Kanakasēņabhatara". The same monk was seen in Sendalai, another important Jaina center.
During the reign of Rajendra II (1062 AD) Chitramāļiperiyanāttar, a merchant community in Tamilnadu, donated some land, a part of its produce was to be measured in Arulmozhidevamarakkal, for the offerings to be made to the Tirumalai temple.
Kanchipuram, a great religious city in Tamilnadu was a center for saivism, Vaişņavism, Buddhism and Jainism. Little Kanchi also known as Tirupparuttikkunram was a great Jaina center with the name Jinakāñchi. A congregation of monks of this region purchased land around 1116 AD.“
The Chola power started declining from the reign of Kulottunga I. The Jina temple at Kühür in Tanjavur District was known as Kulõttungaperumpalli". The Maruthuvakuļi inscription refers to two Jainapal?is at Maruthuvakuļi in Tanjavur District. Gurukka! Chandrakirti and others secured a tax-free pallichandam for the Jaina temple at Jainakanchi in 1199 AD. When the Chola rulers had to fight for their survival, in the border regions, Jainism dominated. Around Tirumalai itself there were other Jaina centers at Inderippau Kuņnthūr, Tachchūr, Sēvūr, Kappa!ūr, Mandaikulathūr and Othalapadi.
In spite of the political turmoil, the Chõļas continued to extend their support to religious institutions. During the reign of Rājarāja III certain Kannan Choļakkon made a donation to the Kundavai Jīnālaya. A Tagadur ruler named Viļukāthaļagiya Perumāl was a feudatory of Rājarāja III. He dug a canal to water the lake in Tirumalai and donated a big well to the temple to be used during rituals and festivals. More so, he showed keen interest in repairing and reinstalling the images of Yakșa and Yakşi (Plate XLVII) Tirumalai temple. Earlier, his ancestor Elini, had installed these two images. Though the exact relationship between Elini and the donor is not well established, this Tirumalai inscription specifies the activities of the chieftain for public welfare. Many devotees were keen on protecting and improving the water resources of Tirumalai region.