Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7

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

Page 216

Historical Role of Jainism
205
Surāshtara gana or Kavūrūri gana of the Sangānvaya. Kālibhadrāchārya, who got the grant renewed, was the seventh in line from Chandraprabha, the first pontiff or the founder of the Varadi. It may not be wrong to infer that Chandraprabha, the founder of the baradi, might have migrated from the Western Deccan, where the Kavūrūri gana was popular. We also know that Kubja Vishnuvardhana acted as Yuvarāja.1 Therefore he was appointed as Governor of Vengi. Very likely, Chandraprabha might have come to Vengi alongwith his desciple. Then, he became a teacher of Ayyana Mahādevi, the wife of Kubja vishnuvardhana.
Vishņuvardhana's leanings towards Jainism are also known from the Kolluru kai fi yat? which informs that in the early years, several Jaina rājās Jayasimha, Malladeva, Samadeva, Sangideva, Permāờideva and the Vengi king Vishsuvardhana ruled over Andhra.
In the reign of Vija yāditya son and successor of Vishnuvardhana III, the Chāļukyas of Bādāmi were defeated by the Râştrakūtas about 750 A. D. Vijayāditya was also defeated by the Rāștrakūta king Govind and was compelled to purchase peace. 8 Since then, the Rāstrakūta influence gradually increased in Vengi and Vishņuvardhana IV (771-806 A. D.) gave his daughter Silamahādevi in marriage to the Rāșțrakūta King Dhruva“. It was under Vishnuvardhana IV, that Rāmatirtham in the Visakhapatnam district, was developed into a fine Jaina centre of learning. It is also evident from the inscription on the pedastal of a broken Jaina image at Rāmatirtham that the place was an influential centre of the Jaina faith during his period.
The greatest benefactor of Jainism among the Eastern Chāļukyan Kings was Amma II (945-970 A. D.), the son and successor of Bhima II. Though his inscriptions at Tādikonda6 and Elavarțu? call him in clear! terms Paramamaheśvara. He seems to have followed a liberal policy in religious matters and dealt with all the faiths in his dominions in an impartial manner. His copper plate records, speak of his munificent patronage for the benefit of Jaipa temples and priests. It is known from the copper plate grants belonging to the period of Amma II. That while
1. Early History of Deccan, p. 215. 2. B. Seshagiri Rao : Studies in South Indian Jainism, Part II, Ch. I,
p. 15. 3. A. S. Altekar : The Rāșțrakūțas and their Times, p. 43.
N. V. Ramanayya : op. cit., pp. 85-86.
MAR, 1908-9, pp. 10-11. 6. EI, XXIII, p. 161 ff. 7. TA. XXII, p. 15.