The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s3.317

c8.s3.317

During the period occupied by the reigns of these early Châlukya princes, the Jaina religion comes into prominence. Ravikîrti, the Jaina who composed the Aihole inscription and represents himself as a poet, was patronized by Pulakesi II. Vijayâditya gave a village for the maintenance of a Jaina temple to Udayadevapandita or Niravadyapandita, the house pupil of Śrîpûjyapâda, who belonged to the Devagaṇa sect of the Mûlasaṁgha, i. e. of the Digambara Jainas. Niravadyapandita is spoken of as a spiritual adviser of Vijayâditya's¹ father, i. e. Vinayaditya. Vikramâditya II. repaired a Jaina temple and gave a grant in connection with it to a learned Jaina of the name of Vijayapandita, who is represented to have silenced his opponents in argument and is styled the only disputant.² But Jainism in those days, as at present, probably flourished in the Southern Marâṭhâ Country only. If the Pûjyapâda who was the preceptor of Niravadyapandita was the famous grammarian of that name, he must have flourished some time before 618 Śaka, the date of Vinayâditya's death, i. e. about 600 Śaka or 678 A.D. All that is known about Pûjyapâda and his relations to other Digambara writers is not inconsistent with this date. But another date two hundred years earlier has also been assigned to Pûjyapâda.