Attimabbe and Chalukyas

The book as a serious literary research work makes an attempt in English for the first time at compiling the history of a great Jaina Sravika of 10th century Karnataka.
Born of an aristocratic Kshatriya-Jaina family at Punganur in Andhrapradesh as daughter of Mallapa and married to another Kshatriya-Jaina General Nagadeva of king Tailapa's army, Attimabbe moved on to Malakheda and Poṭṭalakere before she settled permanently at Lakkundi after the untimely demise of her husband in one of the Chalukya-Rashtrakuta encounters.
Well-versed in Jaina Sastras Attimabbe, with her large inherited wealth spent the rest of her life in Dharma Prabhavana (propagation of religion) by strictly practising Sravaka Dharma. She built as the inscriptions tell us about 1500 Jinamandiras (Jain temples) and installed an equal number of Jinabimbas. She made Sastra Dana of several religious works. She patronised poets and priests with gifts and daily fed the poor and the homeless. One of her renowned beneficiaries was the poet Ranna himself who wrote Ajithanatha Puraņa (993 A. D.) at her request.
The booklet depicts Attimabbe as a model Sravika and proves convincingly her Chalukyan connection on inscriptional evidence.
The authoress Mrs. Kamala Hampana - Professor, Principal and a University Head of the Department of Jainology - born of Dalit parents of Devanahalli of Bangalore district and married to an eminent Jaina scholar of Bangalore University virtually imbibes, by strange coincidence of Destiny, many of the features of Attimabbe's life.
Mrs. Kamala Hampana - herself is a great Sravika and her contribution, as is well known, to Kannada Lalitha Sahitya and to Jaina Sastric Literature is ever remembered and cherished by the Kannada public in general and Jaina community in particular.

Jainism is perhaps the only religious faith in the world which has glorified the principle of ahimsa, of tolerance and compassion towards all living creatures. It is truly amazing that such a concept was conceived and accepted at the very dawn of civilization and has persisted undiminished even to this day with a large following. This religion has had a refining influence on all mankind.
Srimati Kamala Hampana, herself a teacher and a reputed writer has attempted in this book to give us glimpses of the life and achievements of a great Jain lady. 'Danacintamani Attimabbe' who lived nearly a thousand years ago and has left behind a permanent impression of the nobility of her character. We have known of many great ladies who have adorned the pages of the Indian history, famous for their valour and other accomplishments, but none so full of wisdom as Attimabbe. She stands alone as a patron of literature and benefactor par excellence. She gave to every one who came to her for help and craned the well merited title "Dana Cintamani' conferred on her by the great Chalukyan King Tailapa. Her greatest act of benevolence, was her action in getting one thousand copies prepared of the epic "Shanthi Purana' a work of great literary merit. This meant the employment of one thousand scholars to copy the text on palin leaves. She maintained and looked after the scholars for the full period and afterwards distributed the copies to all the learned institutions in the country. By this one action of hers she has put to shade all patrons of literature, past and present. Governments and learned societies of the present day can take a lesson from her shining example.
Attimabbe, herself was a highly accomplished lady and had the remarkable knack of recognizing talent and rewarding it in every possible way, so that it could bloom and spread its fragrance all round. Her greatest discovery was poet Ranna who grew under her fostering care. The poet has praised his benefactress in verses of incomparable beauty and feelings of deep reverence.
Srimati Kamala Hampana's work about this great lady Attimabbe has come at the right time, when women all over the world have joined together and with one voice declared that they will not accept a second class position. They have asserted their rights and claimed equality with man in all spheres of activity. This book on Attimabbe has therefore contemporary significance.
The heroic story of Attimabbe is told in a simple, easily understandable style. All women, not necessarily those of Karnataka, or those following the Jain faith, can profit by reading the life story of Attimabbe. More remembrances of such great souls and their deeds can elevate our minds to new heights. Such reading has a refining influence on the mind. We commend this book to the attention of readers. They stand to gain and become better citizens.