Shravanbelogl aur Dakshin ke anya Jain Tirth

Author(s): Rajkrishna Jain
Publisher: Veer Seva Mandir Trust

Page 9

PREFACE
On the Occasion of the Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony of Gommatesvara I am happy to be associated with the function by being called upon by Shri Raj Krishen Jain, the author of this guide on Sravana Belgola, to write a preface to it The colossal statue of Gommatesvara on the top of the Vindhyagiri hill at Sravana Belgola, Mysore, represents Bahubali, son of Rishabhadeva, the first Jaina Tirthankara, through his wife Sunanda The golden age of Jainism in South India in general and in Karnataka in particular was under the Ganga Kings who made Jainism their state religion The great Jaina Acharya Simhanandı was not only instrumental in laying the foundation of the Ganga kingdom but acted also as an adviser to Kongunivarman I, who was the first Ganga King. While Madhava II (540-565 AD.) made grants to the Digambara Jainas, Durvinita (605-650 AD) sat at the feet of the venerable Pujyapada and Durvinita's son, Mushkara (650 AD) made Jainism the state religion. Ganga kings who followed, were zealous patrons of Jainism Chamunda Raja who was a General of the army of the Ganga king Marasimha III (961-974 AD) erected the colossal statue of Bahubali at Śravana Belgola It is said of Marasimha III that he crowned his life with the highest sacrifice a Jaina may offer to his faith, viz. death by sallekhana Rajamalla I