________________
Historical Significance of Early Jaina Kadamba
Inscriptions Dr. A. K. Chatterjee*
Jainism had reached Karnataka probably as early as the second century A. D., and we have the evidence of an important non-Jaina text, namely the Bhāgavata' regarding the introduction of Jainism in this Janapada. We have shown elsewhere? that in Tamilnadu, Kerala and Sri-Lanka, Jainism was introduced much earlier, probably in the pre-Mauryan days. But the Digambaras of Northern India, were in all probability, responsible for the introduction of Jainism in Karnataka by the middle of the second century A. D. However, the earliest Jaina epigraph from this state is dated in about 400 A. D. Both the Western Ganges and the Kadambas were the major ruling dynasties in this area at this period, and the kings of both these dynasties had some genuine love for the religion of the Jainas.
The Kadambas, like the Western Ganges, came into the limelight from the middle of the 4th century A. D. Like the latter they too were great patrons of the Jaina religion and culture. The earliest inscription of the dynasty of the founder Mayurasarman is assigned to the middle of the 4th century A. D. The first king of this dynasty, who definitely showed special favour for the Jainas, was Kakutsthavarman whose Halsi grant (Belgaum district, Karnataka ) is dated in the 80th year of the pattabandha of his ancestor Mayurasarman. It has been suggested that the year 80 may also be referred to the Gupta era; in that case the inscription should be assigned to circa 400 A.D., which is also supported by the palaeography of the record.
The inscription begins with an adoration of the holy Jinendra who is represented almost as a theistic deity. Some of the grants of Mrgeśavarman and Ravivarman begin with the same verse. It was issued from Palāśika ( Halsi, Belgaum district) by Kakutsthavarman, who is represented as the yuvarāja of the Kadambas'. By this grant, a field in the village called Khetagrama, which belonged to the holy Arhats, was given to the general Srutakirti as a reward for saving the prince. It is said that the confiscators of the field, belonging to the king's own family or any other family, would be guilty of pañcamahāpātaka. According to the Jainas the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
