Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7

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

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Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 7
a renowned Jaina teacher namad Padmaprabha Maladhāri who is a memorable personality in the history of Jaina literature. He wrote the commentary Tāt parya-vritti on the Niyamāsāra of Kunda kunda. He described himself as Sukavi Jana pāyājamitra, Panchāndriya prasara-varjita (free from all protected activities of the five scenes) and gatnamātua parigraha (one chose only possession was his physical body). Relying on the last two epithets of the Pātasivaram inscription P. B. Desail has rightly identified Padmaprabha with the author of above works. Under the Nalamba Pallavas, Chippagiri, Alusu Taluk, Kurnool district also became a celebrated tirtha of the Jainas. Thus we have seen how Jainism was patronised under the reign of the Nalamba Pallavas.
14. JAINISM UNDER THE TELUGU CHOĻAS (1100 to 1350 A. D.)
The Telugu Choļas ruled over sone Nadigullu, in the Anantapur district as the vassals of the Eastern Chāļukyas of Kalyāņa. In the present districts of Rāyalasima, a few more records of the same family have come to light. One record No. 62 dated Š 1200 of the same branch from Amorāpuram, Medakesari tāluk, Anantapur district, is included. It belongs to Mahāmandalesvara Tribhuvanamalla Niršankapratā-pachakravartin viradānava-murāri isungoņedeva Choļa Mahārāja. It states that in the Saka year 1200, a certain Mall Seçti gave Tāmmadahalli, the 2000 areca trees to the Pārsvadeva besadi of Tailanger known as Jainālaya, while Irungonda Choladeva was ruling from Nidigallu. The present ruined temple at Amarāpuram from where the present record is copied is quite possibly identifiable with the Brahma Jainālaya of the records though the Pārsvanātha image is not traceable at present. Through the private record, it is perhaps plausible to think that Irunondadeva Chola Mahārāja of Nidugallu branch also patronised Jainism.
At the same time in Guntur and Nellore districts, Jainism seems to have flourished under the patronage of Chāļukya Choļas. During the reign of Kuloffunga Choļa I, son of Rājarāja Narendra, Munugodu, Sattanapalli tāluk, Guntur District became a flourishing centre of Jainism. From the available records of Monagodu, it is known that during the 37th regnal year of Kuloffunga Chola I i. e. the 11th century A. D. his subordinate chief, Gonka-bhūpa, who was then ruling from Chandavolu Guntur district, and his soldier built the Prithvi Tilaka Jainalaya and endowed with gifts.
Similarly, Pramilādevi, a lay disciple of Matisāgaradeva, is known to have constructed steps for the Karikāla Jainalaya at Kanupartipāņu in the Nellorc district during the 37th regnal year of Rājarāja III i. e.
1. (HQ, XXXVII, pp. 181-185...