Significance of New Inscriptions from Koppala Karnataka

Author(s): Hampa Nagrajaiha
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2

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Hampa Nagarajaiah
11.4.2. Somadeva suri and his classic Yaśastilaka are famous [vide Krishnakant Handiqui's Yasastilaka and Indian culture (1949)]. Somadeva earlier was patronised by Arikesari, vassal of the Rastrakūtas. Somadeva suri completed his work at Gangadharam [Andhra-Pradesh] in the year 959 C. E. The aforementioned Arikesari, who was a Vemalavada-Calukya prince, after washing the feet of Somadeva sūri, made a gift of a village in the year 966 C. E., to the Subhadhāma-Jinālaya built by his father. Earlier, Somadeva sūri had composed another work, the Nitiväkyämṛta when he was at the court of the Pratīhāra potentate Mahendrapala II. The date of composion of this work is sometime before 949 C. E. 11.4.3. Samadevasuri was a contemporary of another great Jaina poet, Pampa (940 C. E.), who had composed two Epics--the Adipurāna and the Vikramārjuna- vijaya-campu-kāvaya-both in Kannada. Pampa, too, was a court poet of the above-noted Calukya Arikesari. 11.4.3.1.Pampa's younger brother Jinavallabha constructed Tribhuvanatilaka-Jinalaya in the year 950 C. E; He had also composed the text of an inscription containing Sanskrit, Kannada, and Telugu verses which is engraved on the Rṣabhagiri hill at the outskirts of the village Kurkyāl, very near Gangadharam of Somadeva sūri [I. A. P. Karimnagar dt No. 3. C. 950 C. EJ. On the same Rṣabhadri is carved in bas relief a huge figure of the Cakreśvarī and the images of six Jinas, three on the right and three on the left side of the yaksi, each being six feet tall. This shows that the area in and around Gangadharam associated with Somadeva süri was a Jaina centre. Inspite of it, the great acārya had selected Koppala for his final destiny, implying thereby that Koppala was considered a more important site among the sacred places for attaining the Samadhimarana, indeed a site on par with Śravanabelagola.
NIRGRANTHA VESTIGES AROUND KOPPAĻA
A cursory glance at the surrounding Jaina places of pilgrimage will justify in assuming the existence of a strong nucleus at Koppala. Within the radius of about 100 kms with Koppala as a central point, exist a good number of other ancient and major centres, clearly showing that Jainism had a firm foothold in the region. Towards
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Jambu-jyoti