Medieval Jainism

SR No.: 011082
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhasker Anand Saletore
Publisher: Karnataka Publishing House
Total Pages: 448
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 27 MB

Page 109

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MEDIÆVAL JAINISM elsewhere in this treatise, in which he is said to have constructed a basadi.1
About fifty years later (in A.D. 1173) Vīra śāntara is called "a bee at the lotus feet of Jina.". But the śāntaras had by this time so got involved in the political complications of southern India that they gave up their earlier faith and took to a newer creed—Vīra Saivism. What a profound effect this had on the life of Jainism will be seen in a later connection. We shall merely narrate here that in the thirteenth century A.D. the capital of the śāntaras was moved first to Kalasa in the Mūdgere tāluka and, then, to Kārkaļa in Tuļuva. We have elsewhere traced the introduction of Jainism into Tuļuva. Notwithstanding their strong Saiva tendencies, the rulers of Kārkaļa still continued to show marked favour to Jainism in the later ages. 4
Before we deal with the endeavours of two important feudatory families to further the cause of Jainism, mention may be made here of the work of Govadeva, the feudatory lord of Huliyerapura. His wife was the generous Santale who gave equal patronage to all the four samayas—the Jinaśri-dharma, the Maheśvarāgama, the Sad-Vaişņavāśrita, and the Bauddhā. gama. And his guru was Candrayāṇadeva of the Desiya gana. Govadeva seems to have had also another wife named Mahādevī Nāyakiti. When Mahādevī died in A.D. 1160 he caused the Cenna Pārśva basadi to be erected at Heggere, for which his son Bittideva gave specified lands and dues for its worship and gifts of food. Bițțideva's guru, it may be noted, was Māņikanandi Siddhāntadeva. Prominent citi
1. M. A. R. for 1923, p. 115. 2. E. C. VII, Sh. 116, p. 38. 3. Saletore, Anct., Karn. I. pp. 404-405. 4. E. C. VI, Intr. p. 19; Mg. 67, p. 67. See below.