INTRODUCTION.
In the Introduction to the Fust Volume of the KARNATAKA KAVICHARITE 01 LIVES OF KANNADA POETS the antiquity of the Karnataka country and language and the support given by kings and nobles to the advancement of the Kannada language and literature were briefly touched upon A few more details will nov be given about these and other matters conuected with them befoie saying a few words about the 11rsent volume, in the liope that they may increase the respect of tlie Kannadigas for, and aiotuse their interest in, their country and language, and that as a consequence earnest efforts may be made by them for the advance
ment of both
Antiquity of the Kannada Country.
The Kannada country was once under the rule of such ancient dynasties of kings as the Maui ya, the Andhra, the Kadamba and the Ganga
It is stated in Jaina Works that when a great twelve years' famine occurred during the reign of the Maui ya king Chandragupta, the Jaina community under the leadership of Bhadrabahu, the last Siulakevali, migrated to the Punnata kingdom 11n the south of Mysore, that king Chandragupta abdicated and accompanied Bhadrabahu as his disciple ; that on reaching Sravana Belgola Bhadralbahu, seeing the approach of his death, ordered the community to proceed on their journey, stopped at Sravana Belgola and died there (in B C. 297) being attended on by his disciple Chandragupta during his last moments, and that after the death of his preceptor Chandragupta lived there for some time and ultimately died by the Jaina rite of sallekhana or starvation. With regard to this account Dr. Vincent Smith writes--" My present impression is that the tradition has a solid foun.
