Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7

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

Page 218

Historical Role of Jainism
207
by the Śrāvakas, Kshapanakas, Kşhullakas and Ajjikas. It may not be wrong to assume that Amma II, though devotee of Saivate, probably made these grants to the Jaina temples in order to please his officers and keep them loyal to him. Owing to public upsurge his vassals might have requested his Lord to donate grants to Jaina basadis to please the people. Unfortunately, the above mentioned Jaina temples are not traceable now. They might have been extinguished in course of time.
For another century, thereafter we do not hear of Jainism again. It cannot be argued that Jainism was completely forshaken and forgotten in this land. Though the evidence for this period is lacking, we learn from an inscription belonging to the 11th century A. D. at Rāmatirtham in Višākhapatanam district, that Jainism continued to flourish in this land and the Rāmatirtham was still considered to be a Jaina centre even in the time of Vishnuvardhana IV C. 771-806 A. D. An Inscription of Vimalāditya informs us that the saint Trikāļayogi-Siddāntadevamuni, the spiritual preceptor of the reigning king and the head of the Deśigana came on piligrimage to Rāmatirtham and paid respects to Rāmakonda. The inscription is vaisible in Kanarese language and the teacher is said to have paid visit to Rāmatirtham. It may not be far fetched to assume that the Achārya Trikāļayogi originally hailed from Karnāțaka and that he apparently visited Andhra dēśa and converted Vimalāditya to Jainism during his last years.
Thus with the liberal attitude of the Eastern Chāļukyas of Vengi, Jainism became a strong rival of Hinduism. The Jainas constructed Jaina baradis and grants were made by the rulers and their vassals for upkeep of these establishments.
8. JAINISM DURING THE RĀȘTRAKOȚA PERIOD (Cir. 814 to 932 A. D.)
The Rāştrakūtas ruled over Andhra region from 814 to 932 A. D. It is generally said that Amoghavarsha I, after defeating Gunga Vijayaditya of Vengi in the battle of Vengavalli, became overlord of the entire Andhra. There is no recorded evidence to show that western Andhra was under the Rāstrakūtas.
Literary as well as Epigraphical sources show that the Rāsțrakūta period marked, indeed, the zenith of Jainism in the Andhra-Karṇātaka country. This period produced a marvellous galaxy of Jaina authors who produced works in different languages and on different subjects. Virasena . 1. B. Seshagiri Rao : op. cit., Part II, p. 20.
2. Early History of Deccan, p. 275.