Book Title: Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7
Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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________________ 204 Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 7 politics and his mame is connected with the foundation of the western Gangas of Talkhed. The tradition further informs that Simhanandin trained two Ikşhvāku princes, Dāddiga and Madhaval, in the art of government at Perür in the Cuddapah district. Then, he enabled them in the establishment of the Ganga Kingdom in 350 A. D. This tradition is mentioned repeatedly in the twelfth century2 records. Perűr was originally a Jaina centre. It appears that these two early exponents of Jaina faith in Andhra, toured and propagated Jainism among the masses. Their tours indeed, infused new blood and vigour into Jainism. 7. JAINISM DURING THE EARLY CHĀĻUKYAN PERIOD (Cir. 624-806 A. D.) The establishment of tbe Eastern Chāļukyan Kingdom of Vengi in 624 A. D. ushered in, indeed a glorious phase in the history of Andhra Jainism. The Chāļukyas of Vengi were not indigenous inhabitants of the country, over which they held sway for merely four centuries. They were an offshoot of the great Chāļukya family of Bādāmi who patronised Jainism. They came from Karnātaka but soon identified themselves with Andhradeśa.8 The Vengi Kingdom was limited to the east coast and baulk of Western Andhra. The regions of Telangānā and Rāyalasimā were included in the dominions of the dynasties ruling from outside Āndhra, e. g. Chāļukyas of Bādāmi, Rāştrakūta and western Chāļukyan empire of Kaļyāņa. All these imperial powers, which swayed over Andhra, were patrons of Jainism and they encouraged it. The kingdom of Vengi became a cock pit of their Sanjunary wars. Even under such political circumstances, Jainism became popular in Andhra, only due to enlightened bonevolance of the Eastern Chāļukyas of Vengi. The first recorded Jaina establishment in Andhra is the Nadumbi Vasadi4 of modern Vijayāvāda in the Krishna district. This is known from the Mušinikonda plates of Vishnuvardhana III in 718-752 A. D. It records the grant of the village of Mušinikonda of the tonka-națavādivişaya to the venarable Kālibhadrāchārya for the benefit of Jaina temple i. e. Nadumbi-varadi, presumably built by Ayyana Mahādevi, queen of Kubja Vishnuvardhana (A. D. 624-641). The record renews the grant of the village Mušinikonda. It further mentions the lineage of the pontiff of the Varadi who belonged to the Venerable community of the amit wi 1. P. B. Desai; JSI, p. 10. 2. EP, Carn, Vol. VII, Ch. 4. 3. JAHRS, Vol VIII, p. 149. ARSIE, 1961-17, C. P. No. 9. N. Venkata Ramanayya : The Eastern Chāļuk yās of Vengi, 74. I Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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