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Jainism in Uttara Kannada Region
113 basadi by Rangarājappa Odeya, of the Mantapa, Chandrashāla etc, and installation of the images of Nēmisvara, Pārsvanātha and Vardhamāna by Ghanțēndra, son of Rangagpparāja, on the advice of Bhatta Akalanka in 1581 AD and records also the grants of 443 Varahas, one hana and three visa derived from the incomes from nine villages Viz. Sõvinakoppa, Hadarimani, Maļigekayi, Korațari Nerilamani, Chattanahalli, Goraținahaļļa, Balugani, Ondane in Ayavattaļigeya-nāļu and Chikkamahaligeya-nāļu: and land yielded 300 khanduga of paddy and other gifts made for the worship, like for amsatapadi, hāludhāre (milk-bath) alankāra dīpa and perpetual lamps, betel leaves and betel-nut, day of Kartika, daily rituals for the purpose of tribali, srutapanchami, Yugādi, Jivadayāshtami, Dīpavali. The Chiefs of Nagire, Hāļuvalli and Biļigi, Ramādēvi, the queen of Ghaņtēndra, constructed a Ghandakuti
or Shāntīshvara and Ghantēndra granted 12 Varahas income from Magadabayalu in Kumbārakuļi village in Ayvattaligeya-nādu.
Just as he patronized the Brahmanical religions, so also Arasappa Nāyaka II of Syādi patronized Jainism at his capital. A copper plate inscription of the Jaina matha40 in Syādi delineates the lineage of the Jaina pontiff Akaļanka as follows: Belonging to the lineage of Chārukīrti Pandita of Mūla sangha was Vijayakīrti. Sāļuvēndra, the king of Sangītapura, worshiped him. (i. e. Hāļuvalli) Akaļanka belonging to this lineage was the disciple of Vijayavimala-kīrti. The record is dated 1578 AD mentions Akaļankadēva as Rāyarājaguru, Maņdalāchārya, Ballaļarāya-jivarakshapāla, Deshigana, Agragana etc., while stating that Arasappa II was his disciple. However, the record is incomplete. There are three copper plate inscription issued by Arasappa Nāyaka II"' mentioning about the donations he made to the Jaina monasteries at Mūdabidre. He is known to have gone on a pilgrimage to Shravanabelagola.42 This king gave his daughter Vīramma to the Biligi king Ghanţēndra II who was a disciple of Akaļankadēva and his disciple Bhattakalankadēva. Arasappa Nāyaka came under the influence of these great teachers and he constructed a monastery at Sõnda. The inscription of Biļigi" and Kalgudibēna at Sõnda reveal that the Jaina matha formerly patronized by Hāļuvalli Chiefs moved to Sõnda via Bisigi during the time of Arasappa Nāyaka II.
The Jaina matha at Sõnda is known an Akaļankamatha even today. The pontiffs of the matha right from the time of Akalanka selected the locality called Kallagudibēna in Sõnda for setting up their tonibs (samādhis). The earliest of these belongs to Akaļankadēva, the teacher of the famous Kannada grammarian Bhatākaļanka, who composed the epitaph on it and erected a mantapa.The tomb of Bhatakaļanka is also located here along with a mantapa and an epitaph.46 There are certain later tombs some of which bear inscription.47 It is curious to note that-Jaina inscriptions after Arasappa Nāyaka II are not found in Sõnda. In view of paucity of epigraphical evidence, it becomes difficult to understand the development of Jainism in this region. Probably Virashaiva mathas enjoyed prosperity in the vicinity of the capitals of Biligi and Keladi chiefdoms, its prosperity certainly affected
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