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VIJAYANAGARA'S PLEDGE
295 Vijayappa, a Jaina, had erased that linga stamp. On this Padmaņņa sețți, the son of Devappa sețţi of Hāsana, and all the other Jainas of the Belūr kingdom, petitioned to the leaders of the Vira saivas, by name Basavadeva of Halebīļu, Pațțadadeva of Puşpagiri, and the other leaders of the Devaprthvimahā-mahattu of the Deśabhāga. The plaintiff was not an ordinary Jaina merchant. He was a worshipper at the lotus feet of Arhat Parameśvara, sun in the sky of the syād vāda creed, delighter in the gifts of food, shelter, medicine, and learning, repairer of ruined Jina temples, purified by the Jaina consecrated water, and adorned with rectitude and many other virtues. On receiving the petition from this worthy and influential Jaina leader of Hāsana, the Mahā-mahattu of Haļebīdu and of the Deśabhāga assembled together, and after due deliberation, made an ordinance (katļu māļisida vivara) thus : “llaving (first) causcd vibhūti (ashes) and viļya (betel leaf) to be offered (these being the Vira Saiva modes of salutation), you (the Jainas) may perform the worship, decorations, illuminations, ablutions, and other Jaina ceremonies of this Vijaya Pārśvanātha (basadi of Halebidu) according to former custom, as long as sun and moon endure”.
But the sanction of the State had to be received for legalizing the ordinance thus passed by the general assembly of the Vira Saiva elders. Hence they approached the chief minister Krşņappayya, who is highly praised as a learned man and an able minister, and as the rod in the right hand of the ruler Venkatādri Nāyaka of Belür. And they requested him to give effect to their united decision. The chief minister "taking this work of merit in hand", and in conformity with the immemorial Karnāțaka custom of inscribing a meritorious work on behalf of the State, had the work dedicated "for the prosperity of the Empire of Venkatādri Näyakayya
