Jain Bunt

Jain Bunt

Regions with significant populations
Languages
Tulu
Religion
Jainism
Related ethnic groups
Bunt

The Jain Bunt are a Jain community of Tulu-speaking erstwhile nobility and gentry from the region of Tulu Nadu in the southwest of India, which comprises the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka and the Kasaragod taluk of Kerala. The Jain Bunts are traditionally defined as a distinctive subdivision of the Bunt community. It is believed that the Jains also have the highest per capita income in India. The Jain Bunts are traditionally matrilineal, a practice called aliyasantana, and probably were the only Jains with this tradition. The Jain Bunts have a feudal and martial heritage, and many erstwhile royalty of the Tulu Nadu region were Jain Bunts.

Origin

Some Jain Bunts are hereditary trustees and administrators of Hindu Temples, an example being at the Dharmasthala Temple, whose hereditary administrators are the Pergade family.

Tradition

Jain traditions

Pillars inside the Saavira Kambada Basadi

A Sacred grove called Nagabana, abode of the nāgas in Belle, Udupi

Bahubali statue on the rock hill, Karkala.

The Jain Bunt are Digambaras. Achieving moksha or liberation is the highest goal of life for the Jains. Jain monastics and renouncers of worldly life are highly revered, especially Bahubali, a king who turned into an ascetic. His virtues are greatly extolled in legends. Huge, monolithic statues have been erected by the Jain Bunts in his honor throughout their recorded history. The oldest among them is located in Karkala. Standing about 42 feet tall, it was erected by the Jain Bunts as per the wishes of a pontiff named Lalitakeerti in 1432. Another statue of Bahubali standing about 35 feet was erected in Venur in 1604 by the Jain Bunt ruler Timma Ajila. The most recently erected statue lies in Dharmasthala and is about 39 feet tall. Mahamastakabhisheka rituals are held once in 12 years at the site of these statues. Jain temples, called basadi and derasar, are numerous in the region and were built by various Jain Bunt rulers. The most famous among them is the Saavira Kambada Basadi located in Moodabidri. Jain Bunts are strict vegans and do not consume anything after sunset or eat root vegetables.

Matrilineal inheritance

Jain Bunts follow a system of matrilineal inheritance called Aliyasantana in Tulu. This is in sharp contrast to other Jain communities. Jains attribute their matrilineality to Bhutala Pandya, a legendary king of unknown antiquity.

Daivaradhane

Along with Hindu gods and Jain tirthankaras, Jain Bunts worship spirit deities which are of both puranic and local origins. They spirit deities are seen as protectors. Annual ritual dances called Bhuta Kola or Dharma Da Nema are performed in the honor of them. A spirit deity called Annappa Panjurli, who is widely revered in the Tulu region, is associated with the Jains and the highly revered Dharmasthala Temple, which is managed by a Jain Bunt family called the Pergades, the members of which use the title of Heggade. The eldest male member of this family inherits the position of dharmadhikari - the one who dispenses justice on behalf of Mañjunātha (Shiva) and Ammavaru, the main deities of the temple. The succession to the post of dharmadikari is according to the laws of aliyasantana.

Nagaradhane

Jain Bunts greatly revere the cobras. They are considered to be sacred creatures and embodiment of Hindu serpent deities like Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka etc. These snake gods are worshipped in sacred groves called Naga Bana. Rituals of Nagaradhane are performed in honor of them.,

Surnames

The surname of the Jain Bunts are the same as the rest of the Bunts which number about 100. The most common as Heggade or Hegde, Shetty, Alva, Ajila, Arasa etc. Some might even use the suffix Jain or Jaini as a last name

Notable Jain Bunts

Further information: List of Bunts

See also

• Jainism in Kerala
• Jainism in Karnataka