________________
Jainism in Uttara Kannada Region
109
to Mulasangha, Desiyagaņa, Pustaka-gachchha and Kundakundānvaya, and a senior disciple of Vishalakīrthi Rahula, died by the rite of aradhana vidhi. An inscription in the same place mentions the death of Kanchaladevi by samadhividhi. She is desribed as the desciple of Gańjiya Maladhāridēva of Krāṇurgaṇa and the queen of Tribhuvana Bīra,12 who bears the title of the rulers of the Kadamba family of Chandavara. The Kāṇurgaṇa was a branch of Mulasangha. 13 One more record in the same place mentions that Mukundadeva of Mulasangha, Surasthagana and Chitrakūta gachchha installed an image.
The foregoing evidence pertaining to Jainism indicates that the different branches of the Mūlasangha like Surasthagana, Krāṇurgana and Desigana were active in the Uttara Kannada Region between 11th and 12th century AD. The evidence also suggests that the royal ladies were among the followers of Jainism.
From the 12th century onwards, Jainism faced great hardship in the plains of Karnataka owing to the rise of Saivism. The pressure on the followers of Jainism by the rising tide of Vīrasaivism in northern part of Karnataka was so much that the Jainas had to move further westward and take shelter under the smaller ruling principalities in the Ghat region. The Chiefs of Nagire, Hāḍuvalli, Sōnda, and Biligi did great service for the cause of Jainism between 14th and 17th century AD. Some of these families openly declared their affiliation to Jainism, though they did not overlook the other religious sects. The Ghat region thus became the center of activities of the Jainas in this period.
Under the Chiefs of Nagire, Gerusoppe became a center of Jaina culture and the place was flooded with the Jain monuments. In 1392 AD, an inscription of Gerusoppa1 refers to the death of Ramakka, a follower of Jainism and wife of Yojanasetți. She is stated to have built a Chaityalaya of Ananthanatha, the fourteenth Tirthankara at the place. Her husband Yojanasheṭţi is also stated in the inscription to have built several Jinalayas and made grants for their maintenance in various places like Huligere, Hiriyahandigola etc. The same record also registers the death of Ramakka's father Māņika Setți. Another inscription of 1421 AD's records a grant of a plot of land valued four honnus made by Padmanarasa for the repairs of the Jaina temple. Padmaṇarasa was the son of Haivanṇarasa and husband of Tangaladevi. The grants are stated to have been made in order to obtain peace for his departed mother Tangaladēvi. Great contributions were made by queen Chennabhairādēvi of Nagire for the development of Jainism in Gerusoppe. The capital became a flourishing center of Jainism. She completed the Santhinātha basadi at Gerusoppe.
Kaikini was another center of Jainism. In 1417 AD, Payamnarya, the Chief disciple of Vidyānandasvāmi, caused to be built the basadi of Pārsvanatha Jaina in this place. Lands were granted for worship and offerings to the deity. In 1542 AD", several gifts made for this basadi are recorded in the inscription. Nemichandradeva made one of the grants for the milk-bath of the Tirthankara image. His disciple Pārśvadēva also made a similar grant for the same purpose. The inscription informs that Nēmichandradeva belonged to the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
