Ajila is a common surname of the Jain’s the landed gentry of the Tulu Nadu region in the south west of India. It is believed that the founder of this community was named Ajila. It is also the name of the Jain dynasty who ruled the principality of Venur for several centuries (1154 to 1786 C.E). The most notable Ajila king was Veera Timmannarasa Ajila IV.
Architecture
The monolith of Bahubali in Venur was erected by Ajila kings Veera Timmannarasa Ajila IV in 1604 C.E. The descendants of the Ajila rulers still survive and inhabit the Aladangady Aramane (Ajila Palace). An inscription in Old Kannada by Veera Timmannarasa Ajila IV unearthed in 2006 reads
Present status The succession to the Ajila throne was as per the Jain custom of matrilineal inheritance (Aliyasantana). The present head of the Ajila dynasty is Padmaprasad Ajila, fourteenth in line through the matrilineal lineage of Veera Timmannarasa Ajila IV. who is still following Jainism.
See also Jain Bunt Venur
References