________________
The Preceptors / 81
town, was a basadi Jain temple, built by the Manqali Gangas in eleventh century. The village Simoge, along with another seven villages were gifted as a gāvuņda-vítti, a means of subsistence, to the minister Perggade Nokkayya, by his king Tribhuvanamalla Nanniya Ganga Permmādideva-l (1070-76) (Sh. 10.1085 pp. 1921).
In all probability it is Perggade Nokkayya who caused a basadi at the then simoge, the modern Shimoga, in the end of eleventh century around 1090, which after being taken over by the Brāhmins, has been renovated and altered into a Vaisnava temple; but it is happy to note that the old temple of the Mandalināờ, some how survives to this day in good condition, with some alterations. But, the old and original pillars are intact in situ; door frames are also maintained as they were. In these solid and heavy pillars and the door frames, technical skill is as transparent as the patient labour is visible. Śrikāra columns very much resemble the similar columns in the Jinālayas of Halebidu olim Bastihalli of the Hoysaļa period. Catholicity of the Mandali Gangas
The Mandali-Gangas were wont to observe religious tolerance. They were the promoters of the dharma of the four traditional samayas, though Jainism continued to be the implicit faith of the state and the people, throughout the reign of the Mandali1000, fashioned after the early Gangas. There were some agrahāras in the Mandalinãd and the Brāhmaṇas were respected and rewarded everywhere. Cordial relations prevailed between Jains and other sects which had most salutary effect on the state. Ālahalli inscription, one of the earliest of the Mandalinad charters throws light on the catholicism of the Gangas: Cikkabbe, consort of Būtuga-1, made over the tank, granted to her by her husband, as gift for purposes of management to god īsānaśiva (Sh. 96. C.E. 915 p. 106). After the advent of Kāļāmukha Śaivas, as early as tenth century, the Śaivas wielded a greater influence. The Mandalināò patronised Saivadharma and Māheśvara Savia in particular.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
