Jainism and Buddhism in Tulunadu
Jainism in Tulunadu Facts are not adequate enough to determine when Jainism first set its foot in the district of South Canara. Inferences about the early spread of this faith are speculative. The renowned poet M. Govinda Pai was of the opinion that Jainism must have been prevalent at least from the 2nd century A.D. His surmise is based on the argument that for the spread of this faith from Sravanabelagola where it established itself in the 3rd century B.C. to the South Canara district, it may not have taken more than two or three centuries and hence by the 2nd century A.D. it must have had the first phase of its influence in this district. But this view is only conjectural. There are strong reasons to think that Jainism had reached South Kanara by the 10th century A.D. The Santaras of Pombuchcha, known for their devout Jain beliefs, had close relations with the Alupas starting from the 10th century A.D. This connection eventually led to intermarriage between the two dynasties in the 1...