Jainism and Karnataka Culture

SR No.: 011062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S R Sharma
Publisher: Karnataka Historical Research Society Dharwar
Publication Year: 1940
Total Pages: 263
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 67

HISTORICAL SURVEY
tion that Basava was wasting the Royal treasury to feed the Jangamas and he scolded Basava. But after a while they were reconciled to each other. 156 The Viraśaiva faith steadily gained ground and the Brāhmin and Jaina faiths suffered. Meanwbile. an incident happened which ultimately led to Bijjala's death. Madhuvayya a Brāhmin convert to Virasaivism gave his daughter in marriage to the son of Hollayya who was an untouchable by birth. Bijja!a was furious and he had the eyes of both pulled out. One Jagadeva killed the king at the instance of Basava who in the meanwhile had gone to Sangameswara where, with a large number of Saivas he was absorbed in Sangamanāth. 157 The Basava Purāņa says:
"As the whirlwind arises from the earth and is lost in it. “As the fourth is produced in the churned milk and sub
sides in to it, "As the forked lightening has its origin on the sky and
retires into it; "So Basava rose out of the guru, grew by his assistance
"And at last was united to him in everlasting rest.” The mantle of leadership then descended upon Canna Basava; but the capital (Kalyāņi) having become too hot for the Lingayats, they had to “pursue their religion out of the reach of the Royal arms." 158
Dr. Krishnaswami Aiyangar has observed that early epigraphical evidence lends support to another origin of Virasaivism (i.e. Lingāyatism ), viz., under a Brāhmaṇa named Ekảntada Ramayya.169 In fact, the Āblür inscription is the only lithic reference we have with regard to the leader of the Lingāyat move
156 Würth, Basava Purana, pp. 77-78. 157 Basava Purāsa 6let Sandhi; Würth Basara Purana op. cit., pp. 96-97. 158 Krishnaswami Aiyangar. Contributions pp. 248-49. 160 [bid, pp. 254-257.