Jain inscription discovered in Kalasa

Chikkamagaluru: An unpublished Jaina inscription belonging to the medieval period was discovered in a Jain Basadi at Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district.

The 10-line inscription, written in Kannada, was found carved on the back of an idol of Chnadranatha Tirthankara, informed T. Murugeshi, associate professor in Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva.

According to the inscription carved on the idol – Angirasa Savatsara Aashada Suddha Dasami Murara Vivaradalu it dates back to 1512 A.D.

“On that specified date and day, Devchandra Deva, a Jain teacher of Panasoge Bali is said to have installed a
miniature Chnadranatha Tirthankar. It is said that he had done so as he was unhappy about an event that he saw and heard,” states the inscription.

Devachandra was a disciple of Lalithakirti Acharya of Panasoge, a small village in K.R. Nagar taluk of the Mysuru.

Chandranatha Tirthankara was the eighth Tirthankara among 24 Tirthankaras and Jwalamalini was his consort. Simhanagadde, located near Kalasa was a famous Jain centre for Jwalamalini, said Murugeshi T.

Further Murugesh thanked Sushmitha K. Kalasa, a PhD student of Kannada University, Hampi and Sri Ajith, priest of the Jain temple, Kalasa for their help and support in the study of this inscription.