Epigraphical Profile & Archaeological Context
Location & Site:Bhandara Basadi, Shravanabelagola, Karnataka
Historical Period:Vijayanagara Empire (14th Century CE)
Patron Sovereign:Emperor Bukkaraya I
🖋️Primary Inscriptional Text
Kannada-Brahmi Script • KannadaOriginal Text Transliterated in Devanagari / Regional Script:
ಜೈನ ಭವನಂಗಳಿಂಗೆ ಹಾನಿ ವೃದ್ಧಿ ಯಾವುದು ಅದನು ವೈಷ್ಣವರು ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಎಂದು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವುದು...
Romanized Transliteration (IAST):
Jaina bhavanaṅgaḷiṅge hāni vṛddhi yāvudu adanu Vaiṣṇavaru tammadē endu rakṣisuvudu...
Scholarly English Translation:
“Taking the hand of the Jain community and placing it in the hand of the Vaishnavas, Emperor Bukkaraya decreed: There is no difference between the religions. Any injury to the Digambara Jains is an injury to the realm. Let this royal edict be engraved in all temples across the empire.”
🔬Historical & Epigraphical Significance
A world-famous landmark in comparative constitutional history and state-guaranteed religious protection, preserving communal brotherhood under sovereign imperial law.
Primary Epigraphical Citations:
- Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. II, Inscription No. 344
- Sastri, K.A. Nilakanta, A History of South India, Oxford University Press, 1955
Associated Archaeological Monument:
View Monument ProfileShravanabelagola Vindhyagiri & Chandragiri Hills
The supreme spiritual epicenter of South Indian Digambara Jainism. Features the 57-foot free-standing monolithic colossus of Bhagwan Bahubali atop Vindhyagiri, and the sacred Chandragiri Hill containing 14 historic basadis and over 500 lithic inscriptions.