Avinita

Avinita (reigned c. 469–529 CE) was the sixth king of the Western Ganga dynasty, ruling the region roughly corresponding to modern-day Karnataka. He was a devout Jain and renowned for his courage, administrative acumen, religious tolerance, and literary patronage. Jain Acharya "Vijaykirti" was his teacher and advisor, His reign laid the foundation for the flourishing Ganga state under his son, King Durvinita.

This inscription confirms the presence of a Jain basadi at Talakadu during the reign of King Avinita. Further evidence of Jain heritage in Talakadu emerged during the 2006 ASI-led excavations, where remains of a Jain temple were unearthed but subsequently damaged. Historical accounts and local tradition also state that many Jain temples in Talakadu were destroyed or converted into shaiva temples during the prolonged conflicts between the Gangas and the Cholas. Administration and legacy Under Avinita, the Ganga kingdom expanded through political alliances and strengthened state administration. Inscriptions praise his governance style, including reforms in land grants and revenue systems.