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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
337
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Dr.J. P. Jain in his recent paper, Lord Gommatesvara of Śravanabelgola, not only accepts Dr.A.N.Upadhye's above noted theory but also strengthene its plausibility and acceptibility by discussing at length all the points - historical, inscriptional, literary etc., concerning the name and the date of the world-famous monolithic image of Lord Gommatosvara. But Dr.M.A.Dhakey in his paper, The Belgolian Bahubali and Western Indian Notices, observes as follows: “Somc say that the colossal monolithic image on the Vindhyagiri (or Gommatagiri) was named 'Gommatesvara? because Gommata was the other name of Cāmundarāya, the Prime Minister of Ganga Rācamallą IV, who caused it to be carved. This suggestion does not seem to hold good since an inscription in Karnataka predating Cāmundarāya, mentions 'Gommatadeva’ as sthāvara-tīrtha"!. He also adds a foot-note: No.5; Annual Report of the Archacological Department, Mysore, 1914, p.38. The inscription dates from the time of Ganga Ereya and hence early tenth century. 10
I, who have firm conviction of Dr.Upadhyc's theory, after going through these two papers, had to have a pretty long scarch for the concerned Report and the Inscription, with a vicw 10 casting a first hand look into them. As these records are not easily available, I feel it proper to reproduce them here. Following is the concerned Report Ereyappa:
63: An inscription on a beam of the Gadde Basava temple at Chikka Hanasoge, Yedatore taluk, which is a Jaina epitaph (plate XI.2), refers incidentally to, the reign of Ereya,. who is evidently the Ganga King Ereyappa. It opens with a verse in praisc of a Jaina teacher, named Elācārya and tells us that he subsisted on water for one month and expired by samādhi and that astopavasa(da) (one who fasts for cight days) Kalneledevar set up the nisidhige or tomb- stone for his Guru Elācārya. Then follow two verses in praise of Kalncledevar stating that when Ereya was ruling the sea-girt carth, receiving homage from the great
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