ATTIMABBE, DANACHINTAMANI
Attimabbe is one of the most renowned women in
ancient Karnataka. Ranna, one of the great poets sponsored by her has paid
glowing tributes to her in his well known epic ‘Ajithapurana’. An inscription
found in Lakkundi, (Gadag district) possibly written by Ranna and
‘Shanthipurana’ by Ponna provide some information about her.
Attimabbe lived in the second half of the tenth
century and the first half of the eleventh century. Her ancestors belonged to
Punganuru of Vengimandala which is presently located in Andhrapradesh.
Mallappaiah and Appakabbe were her parents. Her father was a great patron of
art and literature and he was a mentor of Ponna. Attimabbe was married to Nagadeva
who was an able general at the court of Ahavamalla Someshvara the Chalukya
emperor. Gundamabbe, her younger sister was also married to Nagadeva. Attimabbe
had a son named Annigadeva from this marriage. Gundamabbe sacrificed her life
on the funeral pyre of Nagadeva who passed away prematurely. Attimabbe was left
mourning her husband as well as her sister. She took all this in her stride and
led an exemplary life full of religious piety. She spent all her wealth in the
cause of religion and art. She was bestowed with the title of ‘Daana
Chintaamani’ for her ascetic and altruistic life.
Attimabbe got a huge Basadi (Jaina temple) built in
Lakkundi (1007 A.D.) and provided sufficient funds for its upkeep. She
distributed one thousand and five hundreds statues of Jina made of gold and
studded with precious stones, to the devotees. She ordered the scribes to write
one thousand copies of Ponna’s ‘Shanthipurana’ on palm leaves and they too were
distributed among scholars.
Many inscriptions after her death and many poets of
the next generation have sung her praise. However the poems written by Ranna
are very poetic and have been preserved for their literary merits also. The
Government of Karnataka has instituted an annual award in her name which is
awarded to a woman writer.
References:
1. Attimabbe and contemporary woman culture, Govt. of Karnataka, Contains
eight articles on Jainism and the position of women in the 10th century
2. Attimabbe (Novel) by Samethanahalli Ramaraya, 2004, Kannada Sahitya
Parishat,
3. Daanachintaamani Attimabbe (Biography) 1994, S.P.Patil and
Prashanthakumara Nalavara, Published by Jayapadma Chandrakeerthi,
4. Daanachintamani Attimabbe by Hampa. Nagarajaiah,
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