Jagdcherla Jain Inscription from Andhra Pradesh
Summary
1. This article presents a 12th-century Jain inscription discovered near Jagdcherla in Mahbubnagar district, Andhra Pradesh. Written in old Kannada, the 42-line record praises Jain doctrine and mentions the construction of a Parshvanatha basadi (temple) at Gangapur by a merchant named Bammisetti of the Virabalanjiga community. The temple was established under the guidance of the Jain teacher Meghachandra Siddhantadeva of the Kaniur-gana and Meshapashana-gachchha, a branch of the Mulasangha. 2. The inscription misdates the event to Śaka 1047 (1125–26 CE), but historical cross-referencing suggests the correct date is 1132 CE, based on lunar eclipse evidence and royal chronology. 3. The article also reconstructs the lineage of Jain teachers, showing Meghachandra’s position in a long chain of preceptors, and suggests that the Gollathagudi site, currently under archaeological excavation, is the same as the Gangapur basadi mentioned in the inscription.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
The Jagdcherla inscription sheds light on 12th-century Jain religious life in Andhra Pradesh, illustrating the role of merchant patronage, Jain scholastic traditions, and monastic networks in temple construction and spiritual guidance.