by  Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore

Two years ago, I was introduced to the respected Swamiji of famous Kanakagiri (Hill of Gold) Mutt by Dr. Gopal, Director of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka. The Swamiji invited me to visit the holy Kanakagiri and write a book if possible. I could not take up the assignment but suggested Swamiji to write a book himself. In the meantime a small informative brochure has been published giving the salient features of Kanakagiri.

Kanakagiri is situated in Chamarajanagar district near Maleyur, in a thick forest area, famous for sandalwood. Thus it is not only a picturesque place but also an important place for forest products. Ancient saints and sages of different religious denominations deliberately selected such forests for their dwelling and built mutts or Ashramas or monasteries, so that the disturbance of urban life would not detract them and provide serene atmosphere suited for religious penance. From this point of view, Kanakagiri is an ideal place.

Kanakagiri has a hoary antiquity going back to the early centuries of the Christian era. That Jainism entered into Karnataka quite early is attested to by records. According to legends Maurya King, Chandragupta, came to Karnataka, accompanied by his teacher Bhadrabahu who established Jaina Centre of which Shravanabelagola was the most important one. Perhaps Kanakagiri also had its origin as a Jaina Centre during that period. Anyway it has a great antiquity. It is mentioned in ancient literary works and also in epigraphs. It also has the stone footprints of Jaina saints, mandapas for penance and memorial stones called ‘Nisidi stones.’ All these are built on a huge but broad rocky boulder giving the impression of an ancient township.

Though hundreds of Jaina saints lived and preached here, the records mention the names of Supratishta of Suryapura and Jnanachandradeva. They preached hundreds of students at this place the principles of Jainism. An interesting anecdotes is narrated in this connection. The Jaina teacher, addressing his students, told, when all of us are engaged in the discussion on non-violence (ahimsa) here, a robber arrives on the scene. What will you do? Most of the students said that they will run away without harming the robber because they have been taught ahimsa. Immediately the teacher said non-violence is not cowardice; it is to make all efforts to convince the robber of non-violence and make him act accordingly. In course of time, Jnanachandradeva died and became a great saint in hierarchy. The latter is said to have travelled throughout the country preaching Jainism and attained knowledge at the confluence of Gandhakuti.

Finally at his ripe old age, he returned to Kanakagiri and took up serious penance and cast off his body here and Kanakagiri became famous as Siddhakshetra or a pilgrimage centre.

Another great Jaina saint who lived here was Pujyapada. Fortunately inscriptions refer to him while describing his exalted place in Jainism, from which we can understand his life and achievements. Historians have considered him to be a Kannadiga as he was in the court of Ganga King Durvinita (529-79 BC). Actually Pujyapada was Durvinita’s Guru. Pujyapada was named so because his feet were worshipped by the Gods; and his original name Devanandi faded into background. He was a great scholar. An inscription gives the following details of Pujyapada. “Then came Pujyapada, so called because his feet were worshipped by Gods;who had originally the name Devanandi and because of his towering intellect got the name Jinendrabuddhi. His unequalled knowledge in grammar is proclaimed by his Jinendra Vyakarana; his proficiency in philosophy is attested by his great work Sarvarthasiddhi; his poetical talent and knowledge of prosody is attested by his work Samadhi Shataka. Such is the greatness of Pujyamuni who is worthy of being honoured by groups of saints and sages.” Another record refers to his achievement as the conqueror of heretic faiths and states that he had the power of healing and people used to flock to him for getting cured from the diseases. In an exaggerated way the record states that his body was purified by a visit to the respected Jina at Videha country and the water used to wash his feet had the power of converting iron into gold. Finally, it states that his feet are worthy of being washed by Sri (Lakshmi) and he is Sripujyapada and not simply Pujyapada. Though he flourished in the early centuries of Christian era, he had attained eminence as a great saint by sixth century AD. Kanakagiri became important because Pujyapada lived here. Thus Kanakagiri gave the great saint Pujyapada to South Indian in general and Karnataka Jainism in particular. This is another contribution of Kanakagiri.

Another equally great and distinguished Jaina saint of the ancient period was Umasvati. He was also a highly respected Jaina saint of South India. Whether he visited Kanakagiri or not is a point of difference among scholars. However some historians have argued that Umasvati visited Kanakagiri because of its sacred nature and stayed there for sometime. Umasvati is respected next only to the highly distinguished Kunda Kundacharya, the most venerated Jaina saint in South India. Fortunately there are many records which throw historical light on saint Umasvati. The latter belonged to the lineage of Kunda Kundacharya but flourished some time later. Umasvati is described as the one who wrote the work (sutras) on the Jaina texts and helped the devotees to undertake the path of salvation. Though early records of Umasvati have not been discovered, he is considered to have lived during the early centuries of Christian era but later than the date of Kundakunda. Thus South Indian Jainism had three great saints — Kunda Kundacharya, Pujyapada and Umasvati.

The name and fame of Kanakagiri as a great Jaina Centre in South India spread easily. Many Jaina saints who had distinguished themselves, thought that Kanakagiri is worthy of being chosen as the last abode of their life to cast off their body. In fact the Jainas believed that casting off this body as per the rules enunciated in Jaina texts would bring in religious merit by which one can merge with Jina, the conqueror. Hence many Jaina saints visited Kanakagiri to cast off their body, as per the Jaina rites. Some of the saints are Ajayamuni, Chandrasenacharya, Chandrakeerti, Siddhanthadeva, Vidyananwwda, etc.

Kanakagiri and its saints were patronised by successive ruling dynasties of Karnataka starting from the Gangas of Talkad, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings and Wadiyars of Mysore. Thus it has a continuous history till today.

In recent times it became famous by the presence of Sri Chandrasagaramuni who attained Samadhi in 1986. He took great interest in developing this place and built 24 Jinakutas and constructed steps to the hill. Because of him, many philanthropists gave donations for creating modern amenities for the devotees. In 1997, Swasthi Sri Bhuvanaika Bhattaraka Swamiji was consecrated as the head of this Mutt and he has been taking great interest in improving this Jaina Centre. Even for non-Jainas, a visit to Kanakagiri hill will be a highly rewarding experience.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General  News / June 14th, 2014