Book Title: Studies in South Indian Jainism
Author(s): M S Ramaswami Ayyangar, B Seshagiri Rao
Publisher: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar

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Page 126
________________ 110 THE JAINS IN THE DECCAN. Lewis Rice. Jainism became the state creed during the time of Mushkāra or Mukhāra. His predecessors certainly countenanced the Jain faith except the third and fourth kings in the line of Mādhava, who were devotees of the puranic gods. His successor Avanīta was a Jain, the learned Vijayakirti being his preceptor. Durvanīta who succeeded Avanīta was a disciple of the famous Jain grammarian and guru, Pūjyapāda. Of the other Ganga Rajas special mention must be made of Rachamalla Satyavākya, the twenty-first in succession, who tried to revive the waning influence of the Jains. It was during his reign that the famous Chamundarāya, his minister, erected the colossal statue of Gomatēswara, which in daring conception and gigantic dimension stands unrivalled in India. The Chola clouds were at this time hanging over the whole The following tradition about by order of the God, having the famous Chamundarāva transformed herself into the like. will be read with interest. : ness of an age 1 poor woman, “Chamundariya, after appeared, holding in her hand the Maving established the worship five amritas in a Beliya Gola (or of this image, became proud and small silver pot) for washing the elated at placing this Gol by statuc, and signified her inten. his own authority at so vast an tion to Chamundarāya, who expense of money and labour. laughed at the absurdity of this Soon after this, when he per- proposal, of accomplishing what formed in honour of the God the it had not been in his power to ceremony of Panchamritasnana effect. Out of curiosity, how. for washing the image with five ever, he permitted her to attempt liquids (milk, curds, butter, it; when, to the greatuurprise of honey and sugar),vast quantities te beholders, she washed the of these things were expended image with the liquid brought in in many hundred pots; but, the little silver vase. Chamundathrough the wonderful power of rāva, repenting his sinful the God, the liquid descendeil arrogance, performed a second not lower than the navel, to check time, with profound respect, the pride and vanity of the wor. his ablution, on which they forshipper. Chamundarāya, not merly wasted so much valuable knowing the cause, was filled with liquids, and washed completely grief that his intention was the body of the image. From frustrated of cleaning the image that time this place is named completely with this ablution. after the silver vase (or Beliya While he was in this situation, Gola) which was held in Padmathe celestial nymph Padmavati, vati's hond." and was much they for

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