Danachintamani Attimobbe — An Appraisal

Summary

Vasantha Kumari’s essay appraises the historical and literary portrayals of Attimabbe (also known as Attimobbe), a celebrated patroness of Jainism during the Western Chalukyan period. Although the Chalukyan rulers themselves were not always Jain, powerful Jaina families such as the Ganga, Rastrakuta and Hoysala clans supported the religion’s growth. Attimabbe, daughter of the minister Mallapa and wife of the commander Nagadeva, came from the Vajivamsa of the Kaundinya gotra. Epigraphic records like the Lakkundi inscription of 1007 CE and the Annigeri inscription of 1184 CE describe her building the magnificent Brahma Jinalaya at Lakkundi, commissioning bronze Jina images and distributing thousands of copies of the sacred Śatprabhṛti and Puranas. The author notes that later inscriptions were composed in both Kannada and Sanskrit and often attribute poetic works such as Ranna’s Ajitanātha Purāṇa to her patronage. The article reconstructs the socio‑political context of the Western Chalukyan empire, in which martial families like Mallappa’s rose to prominence through military prowess and loyalty to the crown. Attimabbe served as an important link between these families, using her influence to promote Jain ethics and education. Hagiographic texts relate miracles associated with her piety: she is said to have fasted until she received a vision of Kuṃkuma Jina, to have quenched a devastating fire by sprinkling holy water, and to have vowed to fast unto death until she obtained a particular Jina image. While the author treats such stories critically, she emphasises that they reflect the community’s reverence for a woman who embodied generosity and devotion. By analysing both historical inscriptions and legendary narratives, Kumari highlights Attimabbe’s role in preserving Jain heritage at a time of political upheaval. Her contributions illustrate how female patrons could exercise agency in medieval India, fostering religious art, literature and philanthropy on a grand scale.