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CHAPTER V.
WOMEN AS DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH
Women in Karnātaka history-Ladies of the Nirgunda family as champions of Jina dharmaA woman administrator-Attimabbe--Other examples of austere Jaina ladies --Their devotion and charity exemplified-Kadamba queensNāgarakhanda ladies--Wives of generals-Hoysala Queen Sāntaladevi-Wives of feudatories, officials, and citizens.
TVTOMEN have never been a negligible factor in the
W history of mediæval Karnāļaka. The vitality which characterized Karnātaka's glorious epoch that culminated in the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire, was to an appreciable extent due to the integrity, patriotism, and intelligence of Karnāțaka women to whom love for the land and their dharma was of primary importance. Their devotion, service, and determination made them take an active part in some of the most important affairs of the day. But we are concerned here only with their great work for the cause of the anekāntamata. While studying this aspect of the question it is interesting to note that the women who figured most conspicuously as champions of the Jina dharma, were drawn from all sections of the people, notably from the royalty, the nobility, and the houses of the great ministers and generals.
So early as A. D. 776 we have an instance of a noble
