Chavundaraya
Chavundaraya | |
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Born | c. 940 CE |
Died | 989 (aged 48–49) |
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Jainism |
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Cāmuṇḍarāya or Chavundaraya (
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.[1][2] 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.[1] 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).[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
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,
A sun in the shape of a jewel adorning the crest of the eastern mountains, the brahmaksatra race; a moon in the shape of the splendour of his fame causing to swell the ocean, the brahmaksatra race; the central gem to the pearl necklace of Lakshmi, procured from the Rohana mountain, the brahmaksatra race.[6]
Commander
As a commander for the Western Ganga
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.[9]
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
Builder
The monolith Gomateshwara statue dedicated to the Jain god,
Notes
- ^ a b Kamath (2001), p45
- ^ Sastri (1955), pp356-357
- ^ Kulkarni (1975) in Adiga (2006), p195
- ^ Gopal et al. (1976) in Adiga (2006), p196
- ^ Adiga (2006), p196
- ^ Gopal et al. (1973) in Adiga (2006), p196
- ^ Kamath (2001), p84
- ^ Kamath (2001), p46
- ^ 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
- ^ Upinder Singh 2016, p. 29.
- ^ Sastri (1955), p357
- ^ Kulkarni (1975) in Adiga (2006), p256
- ^ M Seshadri in Kamath (2001), p51
- ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
- ^ 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
- ^ S. Settar in Adiga (2006), p256
References
- Sangave, Vilas Adinath (1981), The Sacred Shravanabelagola (A Socio-Religious Study) (1st ed.), Bharatiya Jnanpith
- Sastri, Nilakanta K.A. (2002) [1955]. A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-560686-8.
- Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. OCLC 7796041.
- Adiga, Malini (2006) [2006]. The Making of Southern Karnataka: Society, Polity and Culture in the early medieval period, AD 400–1030. Chennai: Orient Longman. ISBN 81-250-2912-5.
- Narasimhacharya, R (1988) [1988]. History of Kannada Literature. New Delhi, Madras: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0303-6.
- Keay, John (2000) [2000]. History of India. New York: Grove publications. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
- ISBN 978-93-325-6996-6
External links
- Chamundaraya and Shrvanabelagola
- Jaina Minister Chavundaraya by K. L. Kamat