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ENTRY OF JAINISM INTO
KARNATAKA
HERITAGE OF
SHRAVANABELAGOLA > ENTRY OF JAINISM INTO KARNATAKA
Karnataka
is the sacred abode of various religions of India. Jainism, Buddhism, vedic
and Shaivism and also Christianity and Islam coexisted in the
state. Dvaitha, Advaitha, Vishishtadvaitha, Shakthi Vishishtadvaitha,
Kapalika, Kalamukha, Pashupatha and also Swethambara, Digambara and
Yapaniya sects of Jainism have flourished and cherished this sacred
land. The history of Karnataka is synonymous with that of Jainism.
Jainism migrated to south in the pre Christian era. It has played an
important part in the social and political life of the people. Jainism has found its firm
foothold and roots in Karnataka since the very ancient time. The
emigration of Jain sangha into Karnataka is linked with Jaina
Sauraseni literature. This shaped the Kannada literature in the
earlier and medieval period. Karnataka was the
principal site and power of the religion. Many inscriptions, monuments
and other historical evidences support this concept. The Kuppaturu
inscription mentions that Karnataka was the abode of Jainism the tower
of victory, the house of majesty and the seat of education. Also
to take note of is the information furnished by classics, puranas and other available
literary works. Vimalasuri's 'Pahumacharita' mentions that Sri Rama on
the eve of proceeding to forests vowed to Dasharatha and his mother Kausalya that he would spend his arduous time near Vindyagiri, Malaya
and adjacent to sea and later would return to Ayodhya. Further he
arrived at Vamshagiri where Deshabhushana and Kulabhushana munis lived
and freed them from Upasarga. Further Sridharadeva the last Kevali
attained salvation near the mountain where Deshabhushana and
Kulabhushana attained nirvana according to 'Tilayopannatthi'1.
Vamshasthalapura (Vamshagiri) is no other than Kunthalagiri2 as mentioned
in Pahumacharita. Kunthalagiri is situated nearer to Sholapur which was
once a part of Karnataka. The traditional belief that Sridharadeva
strongly holds good that he attained Mukthi 62 years after Lord Mahavira
attained nirvana. Terapura (Dharashiva) nearer to Usmanabad and also to
Kunthalagiri throws much light on the antiquity of Jainism. According to
Acharya Arishena's Bruhatkathakosha the King Karakandu observed and
renovated the ancient cave with Parshwanatha idol. Both Jaina and
Buddhist traditions contemplate Karakandu as 'Pratyekha Buddha'. This
historical evidence is of much importance and Karakandu was predecessor
of Lord Mahavira. This information helps us to find the traces of
Jainism in the 7th century B.C.. There are prolific evidences to cite
that Jainism flourished well in the ancient period in Venyatatapura
(Andhra Pradesh). One should note the incidence mentioned in Acharya
Arisena's Bruhatkathakosha in Sanskrit containing Asathya Bashana
Kathanaka. This has been supported by Chidanandas Munivamshabyudaya,
Ratnanandi's Badrabahu Charite and Devachandra's Rajavalikathe. It is
equally interesting to know the veracity of this fact by the research
done by the renowned historians and scholars like Dr.Vincent Smith,
Dr.Fleet, Dr.Rice, R.Narasimhachar & Prof. S.R.Sharma. Samprathi the
grandson of Ashoka sent missonaries for the propagation of Jainism in
the south. There is a mountain called Sri Parvat in the
southern part of Andhra and to its west lies the mandala river, probably
the tributary of Tungabadra river. There lies the Vallore city on the
southern bank of Mandala river. Princes Sridhara the son of Yashodhara
undertook penance in Sri Parvata. He relinquished asceticism for some time
and became a gruhastha to protect the dynastic rule. His dynasty was
called Munditta Vamsha. It is said that the Varadatta Ganadhara who was
present in the Samavasarana of Neminatha belonged to this dynasty.
Further Dhanada of Munda dynasty, an exponent of anuvrata and strict
follower of Jainism became the king. Venyatatapura is identified as
Pratipalapura or Bhattiprolu. P.B.Desai has vividly explained about the
same and mentioned that the place was situated near Krishnaveni river.
Indranandi's Srutavatara also mentions this place as
venatatakapura. Due to these reasons, one can infer that Valluru and
Venatatakapura were the abode of Jainism since 2nd century A.D.
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Jevendara Kumara,
the contemporer of Lord Mahavira visited Sahasrakuta Chaityalaya in
Kshemapura (South India) during his sojourn. Kshemapura is identified as
Ballatakipura near Gerusoppe. However much research is required to
assert the same. These facts denote that Jainism found its place in
South India even before Dvadashanga
Shrutakevali Badrabahu Swamy arrived there (3rd Century B.C.)3. It should be noted that
Acharya Badrabahu Swamy with his team of twelve thousand disciples,
Prabhachandra and Vishakacharya arrived at South India
following the deep famine in the North which hindered observing the nigrantha munidharma. The Maurya emperor Chandragupta of Magadha kingdom
followed his guru to Shravanabelagola from Pataliputra. This further emphasises the view that there were
revered Shravakas living in the south to welcome and provide shelter to
the munis. The inscription at Shravanabelagola states that muni Sangha
which departed from Ujjain arrived at Kalvappu or Katavapra (Shravanabelagola)
through 'aarshamarga'. It is interesting to trace the aarshamarga
through which the muni sangha travelled in the places such as
Siddavarakoota, Pavapuri, Chulagiri, Ujjanthagiri, Mangitungi, Gajapanth,
Charanagiri, Kunthalagiri and Tera. There were Jain sravakas living in
parts of Karnataka. Shravanabelagola became the place of main stay where
Shrutakevali Badrabahu attained samadhi. As mentioned in Bruhatkathakosa,
Chanakya embraced asceticism along with his 500 disciples and travelled
through south. He observed kayotsarga in Gokula of Mahakounchapura
situated on the western part of the region. Further Subandhu the
minister of Nandaraja arrived at Mahakrounchapura and assumed the
ministership of the king of the place following the demise of his former
king. He also observed samadhi marana following the path of Chanakyamuni.
Chanakyamuni is mentioned in various pages of Bruhatkathakosha, even
though the name of Banavasi is not cited. If one treats discontent as
historical, it can be inferred that Jainism prevailed well in Banavasi region
of Karnataka in the 3rd century B.C. Karnataka was an important place of
Digambara sect of Jainism in 2nd century A.D. and the religion also
pervaded its tentacles in other parts of South India. It is observed
that Jainism identified itself as independent Digambara and Swethambara
sects by 2nd century A.D. following the arrival of Srutakevali Badrabahu
Swami in south. Furthermore Swethambara prevailed more in north where as
Digambaras in south India.
The conferences
of Swethambara munis and protecting of Agamas were recorded first in North
India. It is noteworthy to mention that there was only a single
inscription of Brigeshaverma available citing the Swethambaras existence
in South India. However many records of Digambara and Yapaniya sects are
found and protected especially in Karnataka. Pushpadantha and Buthabali
munis sought the preachings of the residual agamas emanated from
Dharasenamuni who spent his last days in Chandra cave of Ujjanthagiri.
Pushpadanthamuni arrived at Vanavasi with the intention of protecting
agamas through writings. Later he devised the formula as a prelude to
Shatkandagama. Buthabali the religious brethren of Pushpadantha
completed the work of Shatkandagama. The historical evidence of
criticisms or interpretations on Shatkandagama and its evolution stand
as a testimony of the history of ancient Kannada literature in Karnataka
but also is the morphos of the evolution of the format of Kannada
literature. It can be inferred that undoubtedly Karnataka was a mainstay
of Jainism from time immemorial.
Bibliography:
1. Shravanabelagola Ondhu Samikshe: Ed.
Dr.G.S.Shivarudrappa (Bangalore University Publication, 1983)
2. Karnataka Mattu Jaina Dharma: Hampa.
Nagarajaiah (Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Bangalore, 1983)
3. Shravanabelagola Srigalavara
Bashana Sangraha: Ed. A.Shantharaja Shastry (1932)
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1. Tilayopannatti - Tiliopannatti was
written in 6th century A.D. by Yati Rishaba. It was a great work on the
Jaina cosmography. This appears to have been written in Karnataka
according to Dr.A.N.Upadhye (Ref: Karnataka through Ages, Dharwar, 19,
Pg. No. 475)
2. The kunthalagiri situated near
Vamshasthalapura as mentioned in Nirvana Bhakti of Tilayopannatti is the
same i.e. Vamshagiri in Pahumacharita. Dr.M.D.Vasantharaj (Mysore) the
renowned scholar and researcher has mentioned that Kunthalagiri cited is
nearer to Sholapur as mentioned in the article. The following lines from
Tilayopannatti may be quoted:
Vamshasthala Uraniyadee Pachhimabaayamih
Kunthugirisiharee |
Kuladeesadeshabhusanamunaee
Nivvanagayaateesim ||
Dr. Jyothiprasad Jain has further observed
that Vanshagiri/Kunthalagiri mentioned in Ravisenas Padmacharita or
Pahumacharita is not Kunthalagiri. Further he adds that Ramakonda (Ramagiri)
near Vijayanagaram of Vishakapattanam district (Andhra Pradesh) probably
represents Kunthalagiri. Nathurampremi has also expressed the same
opinion in the book Jain Sahitya Aur Itihas Pg. 4-47 (Hamare
Tirth Kshetra).
According to Y.K.Jain of Bangalore as per
the book " Bharat ke Digamber Tirth " published by Bhartiya Gyanpitha,
Kundalgiri which is near Damoh ( M.P. ) was the place where acharya
Sridhar had moksha. In fact this book also refers to 'Tilayopannatthi'
for the same reference.
The above studies reveal the fact that
there is no concurrence observed about the exact placement of
Kunthalagiri in the map of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh.
3. There exists a velter of confusion
while tracing the exactness of Chandraguptas and Badrabahus names and
dates. But no final word has come out. It is generally accepted that
Chandragupta the Mauryan emperor accompanied Badrabahu the last
Srutakevali and settled in Shravanabelagola according to an inscription
found in Chandragiri. This is also supported by Tilayopannathi. Much
research is required in this connection.
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parshwanath@jainheritagecentres.com
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