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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
341
REFERENCES AND NOTES
I.
Revised version of the paper presented at the Symposium on Gommatesvara, held at the University of Mysorc, in January, 1981 and published in the Jain Journal - Vol.XXV - 4, 1991. Recently, in the Seminar on Lord Gommateśvara, held at Śravanabelgola in December, 1980, Dr.R.C.Hiremath suggested the following derivation: Brahma (great) > Bomma Gomma>bombe >gombe in Kannada. Anekānta, Vol. IV, 3-4. (i) In Marāthi language gomatā is still a living word. The Maharastra Sabdakośa Vol.III (Pune 1934), notes its meaning as follows: gomațā-lem - sweet, beautiful, good, charming, of fair complexion. (ii) Curiously enough, Kittel does not note it in his Kannada Dictionary, However he notes gumma, meaning devil. It is interesting to note in this context that a small merchantile community named Kommatigas, found even today in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, are said to have been formerly, devout followers of Lord Gommalesvara. Gommateśvara Commemoracion Volume, Śravanabelgola 1981, pp.34-45. Ibid., pp.40-41. Ibid., pp.41-44. Gommateśvara Commemoration Volume, Śravanabelgola 1981, pp.96-98.
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