Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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Historical Role of Jainism
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The Jaina literaturel contains many references to the early Šātavāhana kings and their patronage of Jainism. The Jaina Avasyāka sūtra? refers to a Sālivāhana of Pratistānapura (Paithan) as a devotee of Jaina deva. Jaina Prabhāsūri, in his Kal pa pradi pa records that Simukha was a patron of Jainism. Further, he writes that there were fifty two warriors in the court of Sālivāhana of Paithan, and they built many Jaina temples and Chaityass in their own names.
According to the Prabhāvikāra charita, Śri sātavāhana built a Jaina tirtha.4 The Kalakacharya Kathanakaš informs us, that Kalaka was the Jaina teacher of the sātavāhana who ruled over Paithan. Some Jaina works mentioned, Śāktikumāra, son of Śālivāhana.6 He is identified with Saktisri, son of Satakarni and Nāgamika?. The history of the above works are doubtful; but they clearly indicate how the Jaina writers cherished the memory of the liberal patronage. They enjoyed at the bands of the Sātavāhana Kings.
Jainism also flourished greatly during this period, because of efforts of the great acharya of Jainism called Kunda Kunda, who lived on the hill Konakondla in the Anantapur district. A damaged inscription from Konakondla mentions that the eminent teacher Kunda Kunda, was the chief of the Müla samgha. In the South, every line of teachers was proud of tracing its lineage to Kunda Kunda or Kunda-Kundanyaya. According to A. N. Upadhaye, Kunda Kunda lived in the beginning of the Christian era i. e. first century A. D. Because of his reputation, Kunda Kunda had large followers, and is known to have founded the Balatkāragana and Sarśvatigachchha or Vakragachchha. 10
6. JAINISM DURING THE GANGA (Cir. 200-350 A. D.)
Simbanandin is another great figure in the early history of Jainism in Andhra Pradesh. He is known to have participated in contemporary
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
B. S. L. Hanumantha Rao : Op. cit. p. 147. J BORS, XVI, Parts III and IV, p. 290. Sāvāhana and Salivāhana Saptasati JBORS, X, p. 133. TA, XI, pp. 247-251. QJMS, XIII, pp. 498 ff. E. J. Rapson, op. cit., 1, p. 478. Select Inscriptions, I, p. 190, Note. 1. SII, IX, Pt, No. 288. Introduction to Pravathanāsāra, p. 2. J. P. Jain : The Jaina Sources of the History of Ancient India, pp. 120-126.
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