Religion In Western Ganga Kingdom

The Western Ganga Dynasty (350 - 1000 CE) ( kn, ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಗಂಗ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ) was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka. Its members are known as Western Gangas to distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ruled over modern Orissa. The Western Gangas ruled as a sovereign power from the middle of fourth century to middle of sixth century, initially from Kolar, later moving their capital to Talakad on the banks of the Kaveri River in modern Mysore district. Though territorially a small kingdom, the Western Ganga contribution to polity, culture and literature of the modern south Karnataka region is considered noteworthy. The Ganga kings showed benevolent tolerance to all faiths but are most famous for their patronage towards Jainism resulting in the construction of fine monuments in such places as Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli.

Religion

The Western Gangas gave patronage to all the major religious faiths of the time; Jainism and different sects of Hinduism such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Mīmāṃsā school. However scholars have argued that not all Ganga kings may have given equal priority to all the faiths. Some historians believe the Gangas were ardent Jains,Dr. Lewis Rice, S. R. Sharma and M. V. Krishna Rao though inscriptional evidence is not conclusive since they mention ''kalamukhas'' (staunch Shaiva ascetics), ''pasupatas'' and ''lokayatas'' (followers of ''Pasupatha'' doctrine) who flourished in Gangavadi, indicating Shaivism was also popular. King Madhava and Harivarman were devoted of cows and Brahmins and King Vishnugopa was a devout Vaishnava.Srikantha Shastri in Kamath (2001), p49 Madhava III's and Avinita's inscriptions describe lavish endowments to Jain orders and temples.Adiga (2006), p249 There is also inscriptional evidence King Durvinita performed Vedic sacrifices prompting historians to claim he was a Hindu and was either a Vaishnavite or a Shaivite.Srikanta Sastri in However, Western Ganga records from the 8th century reveal a strong Jain influence evidenced by the many ''basadis'' they built and due to popularity of saints such as Pushpdanta, Pujyapada, Vajranandi, Srivaradhadeva, Ajitasena.Kamath (2001), p49

Jainism

Prior to the 8th century, Jain temples were called ''Chaitya'', ''Cediya'', ''Jainalaya'', ''Jinageha'' or ''Jinabhavana'', the term ''Basadi'' being used only later on.Adiga (2006), p251 Jain popularity received a further boost from the Ganga overlords, the Rashtrakutas, from the time of Amoghavarsha I. However evidence shows a decline in its popularity among local leadership (landlords or ''gavundas'') from the 10th century when they began to favour Shaivism .Adiga (2006), p253 The true age of Jain popularity in the region was from the 8th century rule of King Shivamara I leading to the construction of numerous ''basadi''s.From the Kulaganga and Narasimhapura copper plates (Adiga 2006, p255) King Butuga II and minister Chavundaraya were staunch Jains which is evident from the construction of the Gomateshwara monolith.From the Kudlur plates of Butuga II (Adiga 2006, p256) A historian has claimed that majority of those Jains seeking release from the material world (moksha) by inviting death through rituals and asceticism (sannyasa) were from the aristocratic and prosperous mercantile community, such rituals among people from lower social classes being a rarity.Settar in Adiga (2006), p258 Women made endowments to Jain causes too, a royal concubine Nandavva and a wealthy feudal lady Attimabbe being examples.Adiga (2006), p259

Jains worshipped the twenty four Tirthankaras (''Jina''s), whose images were consecrated in their temples. Some scholars believe that Jain worship was not meant to gain boons or favours from the deity, rather to meditate and obtain perfection through detachment.Upadhye, Stevenson et al. in Adiga (2006), p261 However one historian claims a study of contemporary Jain literature reveals that spiritual and temporal benefits ware sought.Singh in Adiga (2006), p262 The assignment of creative and destructive powers to ''tirthankars'' is considered a parallel to the beliefs of Hindus who assigned these powers to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the holy trinity (Trimurti).Adiga (2006), p262 The worship of the footprint of spiritual leaders such as those of Bhadrabahu in Shravanabelagola from the 10th century is considered a parallel to Buddhism.P.B.Desai and Jaiswal in Adiga (2006), pp263-264 Some brahminical influences are seen in the consecration of the Gomateshwara monolith which is the statue of Bahubali, the son of ''tirthankar'' Adinatha (just as Hindus worshipped the sons of Shiva).Adiga (2006), p264

The worship of subordinate deities such as yakshas and yakshinis, earlier considered as mere attendants of the tirthankaras, was a development of the 7th century to 12th century.Adiga (2006), pp264-265 This is considered the beginning of devotional cults which elevated yakshi Jvalamalini Kalpa and Bhairava Padmavati Kalpa to deity status. Jvalamalini, depicted with flames issuing forth from her head and holding such attributes as a bow, shield, arrows, sword, discuss (''cakra'') etc., in her eight arms and riding a buffalo was the attendant of the eighth tirthankara, Chandraprabha.Settar sees parallels in Buddhism and Hinduism (Adiga 2006, p265) Padmavati was the ''yaksi'' of the twenty-third tirthankara, Parshva, and may have been derived from the Hindu namesake.Nandi in Adiga (2006), p266 Cult worship is considered consistent with the assimilation of forest and tribal dwellers into the Jain faith and a caste based society.Adiga (2006), p266 While asceticism was upheld in the earlier period, an increased inflow of endowments from wealthy merchants and royalty made monks more settled in temples.Adiga (2006), p270 Prayers, chantings, decoration and anointment of the deity in Digambara temples were carried out by upajjhayas or acharyas. In contrast, lay devotees in Svetambara derasars undertook these activities and the temple staff merely did the cleaning.Paul Dundas in Adiga (2006), p280 Ascetics did not indulge in any direct contact with the image of the deity, rather they spent time in penance and contemplation.Adiga (2006), p280 A historian has proposed that Jain temples may have employed courtesans (''Devadasi'' or ''Sule'') though this may have been a post 10th century development.Chennakka Yeligar in Adiga (2006), p280

Hinduism

Vedic Brahminism was popular in the 6th and 7th centuries when inscriptions refer to grants made to ''Srotriya'' Brahmins. These inscriptions also describe the ''gotra'' (lineage) affiliation to royal families and their adherence of such Vedic rituals as ''ashvamedha'' (horse sacrifice) and ''hiranyagarbha''.From the Bendiganhalli and Bangalore copper plates, the Chaluvanahalli plates, Kutalur grant, Kadagattur and Nallala grants of King Durvinita, Kondunjeruvu grant of King Avinita (Adiga 2006, pp281-282) Brahmins and kings enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, rituals performed by the Brahmins gave legitimacy to kings and the land grants made by kings to Brahmins elevated them in society to the level of wealthy landowners who brought forest dwellers into the religious caste based society.Adiga (2006), p282 During the later part of the Ganga rule, with the rise in Jain popularity, patronage to Brahmins reduced. The Brahmins now sought and occupied influential positions in the military and administration.Adiga (2006), p283 Brahmins started to make donations to building memorials for fallen heroes and land grants to build temples.From 7th century Kannada inscription in Aihole describing endowment made by Mahajans (brahmins) to the excavation of a cavern in memory of King Pulakeshin II, the Punajur and Madur inscriptions (Adiga 2006, pp288-9) By the end of the 10th century, Brahmins resident in ''agraharas'' (schools of learning) were participating in puranic forms of worship in temples, constructing new ones or acting as trusties for ''devabhoga'' grants (temple grants).Adiga (2006), p291 Vaishnavism, however, was in a low profile and not many inscriptions describe grants towards its cause.Adiga (2006), p313 Some Vaishnava temples built by the Gangas were the ''Narayanaswami'' temples in Nanjangud, Sattur and Hangala in modern Mysore district, Kodandarama and Yoga Narasimha temples at modern Chikkamagaluru district and the Nolamba Narayaneshvara temple at Avani in modern Kolar district.From the Kalkunda inscription (Adiga 2006, pp314-316) The deity Vishnu was depicted with four arms holding a conch (''Shanka''), discus (''chakra''), mace (''gada'') and lotus (''Padma'').Adiga (2006), p317

From the beginning of the 8th century, patronage to Shaivism increased from every section of society; from the landed elite, the landlords, the assemblies (''samaya'') and the schools of learning (''aghraharas''). Hereditary ruling families such as the Bana, Nolamba and Chalukya clans gave patronage to the Shaivism.From the Nandi copper plates of Rashtrakuta Govinda III of 800, Koyattur-12000 grant of King Dodda Naradhipa Bana in 810, the Ganiganur inscription, Nolamba King Mahendradhirajas grant of his house towards a Shaiva temple in 878, Baragur inscription of 914 of King Ayappadeva Nolamba, the Ninneshvaradeva temple built by King Dilipayya Nolamba in 942 (Adiga 2006, pp293-294) Among minor Chalukya kings in Gangavadi region, Narasinga Chalukya of Mysore constructed the Narasingeshwara temple and Kings Goggi and Durga build the Buteshvara temple at Varuna in modern Mysore region.From the Kukkarahalli, Manalevadi, Aragodupalli and Torevalli inscriptions, (Adiga 2006, 294) Shaivism received patronage from local landlords, particularly from the 9th century onwards when temple priests and ascetics played an active role in temple construction.From the Homma inscription, inscription of Pontiff Tribhuvna Kavttara Bhatara of Avanya (Adiga 2006, pp298-99)

Unlike the Jainism where strict doctrines prevented ascetics and monks from being involved in temple based activities, such regulations did not hamper the Shaiva preceptors who dedicated their energies towards gathering devotee support for monastic activities.Adiga (2006), p300 The Shaiva temples enshrined a Shiva ''linga'' (phallus) in the sanctum sanctorum along with images of the mother goddess and Surya (Sun god) for worship.This was popularised by the ''kalamukha'' monks (Adiga 2006, p292) Sometimes Vaishnava deity images were included asserting the all encompassing nature of Shiva. Nandi (a bull and attendant of Shiva) was normally enshrined in a separate pavilion facing the sanctum.Adiga (2006), p301H.V.Stietencron in Adiga 2006, p303 The ''linga'' was man made and on occasion had etchings of Ganapati (son of Shiva) and Parvati (consort and wife of Shiva) on it. Due to the vigorous efforts of priests and ascetics, Shaiva monastic orders flourished in many places including modern Nandi Hills, Avani and Hebbata in Kolar district, Baragur and Hemavati in Tumkur district, Pemjeru, Mysore and Shimoga.From Nandi copper plates of 800, Avani pillar inscription, Perbetta hero stones, 878 inscription of Nolamba Mahendradhiraja, Baragur inscription of 919, 942 Tumkur grant and Basavanahalli inscriptions (Adiga 2006, p304-305) Apart from these monasteries, seats of ''kalamukha'' orders existed in modern Kolar, Mysore and Tumkur districts. These orders were less visible in modern Hassan and Chikkamagaluru regions where Jainism was popular.From the Kempanapura inscription of 991, Kannambadi and Atakur inscriptions of 949 (Adiga 2006, p304)

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Social history of Karnataka
Western Ganga dynasty