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CXXIV
Kavyanusasana
It appears from verse 144 that Mūlarāja was of ṣyama, i. e. dark complexion as also was his grand-son Durlabha (v. 60 Canto VII). The family deity of the Chalukyas was Sri Somanatha - that is god Şiva whose image was consecrated in a temple at Somanatha Pattana or Prabhasa Pattana in Kathiawad one of the most ancient holy places of pilgrimage of India known even to the Mahabharata-as we have seen before. Any thing of importance that Mularāja did was supposed to be at the suggestion of the god Somanatha. So we find Hemachandra saying that it was at the suggestion of the god Sambhu who appeared to him in a dream that he undertook the expedition against Graharipu. He consults Jambaka and Jehula, two of his main counsellors. According to Abhayatilakāgaṇi, Jambaka was his Mahamantrin while Jehula - the Rapaka of Khairalu was his Mahapradhana. Jehula recounts the misdeeds of Graharipu in detail - the main being his harassment of the pilgrims and the sacrilege of the holy places by killing and eating the sacred animals. His treatment of the defeated enemies is referred to as not worthy of a Kshatriya. In short he is described as an incarnation of the devil. So Jehula advises the king immediately to send a general without even sending an envoy for the formal declaration of hostilities.
Jambaka agrees with Jehula so far as subjugating Graharipu is concerned. He describes the strongly fortified position of the enemy, as the mountain is only at a distance of Krosa while the sea is at a distance of Yojana from his capital. He also refers to his constant watchfulness and his
powerful ally
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