Chavundaraya

Chavundraya or Chamundaraya (Kannada ''Cāmuṇḍarāya, Cāvuṇḍarāya'', 940–989) was an Indian military commander, architect, poet and minister. He served in the court of the Western Ganga dynasty of Talakad (in modern Karnataka, India). A person of many talents, in 982 he commissioned the construction of the monolithic statue of Bahubali, the Gomateshwara, at Shravanabelagola, an important place of pilgrimage for Jainism. He was a devotee of the Jain Acharya Nemichandra and Ajitasena Bhattaraka and was an influential person during the reigns of Marasimha II Satyavakya, (963–975). Rachamalla IV Satyavakya, (975–986) and Rachamalla V (Rakkasaganga), (986–999).

A courageous commander with the title ''Samara Paraśurāma'' (''lit'', "Battle-Rama wielding an ax"), he found time to pursue his literary interests as well and became a renowned writer in Kannada and Sanskrit.Kamath (2001), p45Sastri (1955), pp356-357 He wrote an important and existing prose piece called the ''Chavundaraya Purana'', also known as ''Trishasthi Lakshana Purana'', in Kannada (978) and the ''Cāritrasāra'' in Sanskrit. He patronised the famous Kannada grammarians Gunavarma and Nagavarma I and the poet Ranna whose writing ''Parusharama Charite'' may have been a eulogy of his patron. Because of his many lasting contributions, Chavundaraya is an important figure in the history of medieval Karnataka.

Origin

In his writing, he claims he was from the ''Brahmakshatriya'' ''Vamsa'' (Brahmin converted to the Kshatriya caste).Kulkarni (1975) in Adiga (2006), p195 The 10th century Algodu inscription of the Mysore district and the Arani inscription from the Mandya district provide more information on the family genealogy of Chavundaraya. It states that Chavundaraya was the grandson of Govindamayya who is praised for his knowledge and Dharma and was the son of Mabalayya, a subordinate of King Marasimha II. Mabalayya and his brother Isarayya are praised for their prowess in the inscription.Gopal et al. (1976) in Adiga (2006), p196 It is believed that their political position under King Marasimha II may have led to a gradual adoption of Kshatriya status by this Brahmin family.Adiga (2006), p196

An inscriptional eulogy of Chavundaraya on the ''Tyagada Brahmadeva Pillar'' at Shravanabelagola (which has beautiful engravings and relief representing Chavundaraya and his guru Nemichandra at the base) praises him thus,

Commander

As a commander for the Western Ganga feudatory of the Rashtrakutas, he fought many battles for their Rashtrakutas overlords, beginning in the days of the Rashtrakuta king, Khottiga Amoghavarsha. In fact, the Gangas supported the cause of the Rashtrakutas till the very end.Kamath (2001), p84 During the last years of Rashtrakuta rule, the Gangas were also under constant threat of civil war and from invasions of the increasingly powerful Chola Dynasty. When a civil war broke out in 975, Chavundaraya supported the cause of Prince Rachamalla IV and installed him on the throne.Kamath (2001), p46

Chavundaraya suppressed a rebellion made by Panchaldeva Mahasamanta in 975 AD and slew Mudurachayya (who held the titles ''Chaladanka Ganga'' and ''Gangarabanta'') in the battle of Bageyur. He thus avenged the death of his brother Nagavarma by Mudurachayya. After these battles where Chavundaraya showed his gallantry, Rachamalla IV ascended the Ganga throne. For his exploits, Chavundraya earned the titles ''Samara Parsurama'', ''Vira Martanda'', ''Ranarangasimha'', ''Samara Dhurandhara'', ''Vairikula Kaladanda'', ''Bhuja Vikrama'' and ''Bhatamara''.Rao, Krishna M. V., ''The Gangas of Talakad: A Monograph on the History of Mysore from the Fourth to the Close of the Eleventh Century'', (1936), pp109 – 113, Publishers:B.G. Paul and Company

Writings

Chavundaraya's writing, ''Chavundaraya Purana'', is the second oldest existing work in prose style in Kannada and is a summary of the Sanskrit works, ''Adipurana'' and ''Uttarapurana'', written by Jinasena and Gunabhadra during the rule of Rashtrakuta Amoghavarsha I. The prose work, composed in lucid Kannada, was meant mainly for the common man and avoided any reference to complicated elements of Jain doctrines and philosophy. In his writing, the influences of his predecessor Adikavi Pampa and contemporary Ranna are seen. ''Trishashtilakshana purana'' narrates the legends of twenty-four Jain Tirthankaras, twelve ''Chakravartis'', nine ''Balabhadras'', nine ''Narayanas'' and nine ''Pratinarayanas'' – narrations on sixty-three Jain proponents in all.Sastri (1955), p357Kulkarni (1975) in Adiga (2006), p256

Builder

The monolith Gomateshwara statue dedicated to the Jain god, Bahubali, was commissioned by Chavundaraya and built on the Indragiri hill (also known as Vindhyagiri Hill) is a unique example of Western Ganga sculpture. Carved from fine-grained white granite, the image stands on a lotus. It has no support up to the thighs and is 60 feet tall with the face measuring 6.5 feet. With the serene expression on the face of the image, its curled hair with graceful locks, its proportional anatomy, the monolith size, and the combination of its artistry and craftsmanship have led it to be called the mightiest achievement in sculptural art in medieval Karnataka.M Seshadri in Kamath (2001), p51 It is the largest monolithic statue in the world. The Chavundaraya basadi also in Shravanabelagola and built on the Chandragiri Hill is credited to him by some scholars while others argue it was built by his son Jinadevana.The characters on an inscription at the base of the image of Jain Tirthankara Parashwanatha in the basadi states a Jain temple was built by Jinadevana, Gopal et al. (1973) in Adiga (2006), p256 However, by the 12th century additions to the shrine were made by a later King Gangaraja by which time tradition held that the shrine was built by Chavundaraya. However another view holds that the original shrine itself was consecrated in the 11th century and built in memory of Chavundaraya.S. Settar in Adiga (2006), p256

Notes

References

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External links

Chamundaraya and Shrvanabelagola
by K. L. Kamat

{{Authority control

10th-century Indian Jain writers
Military personnel from Karnataka
History of Karnataka
Kannada-language writers
940 births
989 deaths
People of the Western Ganga dynasty
People from Hassan district
10th-century Indian poets
10th-century Indian politicians
Karnataka politicians
Poets from Karnataka
Scientists from Karnataka