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CXXX
Kavyanusasana The great ascetic Kanthadi and his disciple Vayajalladeva, whose account is narrated by the P. C., may also be mentioned as two opposite types of Yogis who represent peculiar religious attitudes which have affected the religiousconsciousness of Gujarāta. Kanthadi, when requested by Mūlarāja, refused to become the head of the Royal Temple of the Tripurusha - prāsāda and preferred to remain a recluse; while his disciple Vayajalladeva consented to take charge of the temple if he would be provided with means to enjoy life in a royal style which included thirty-two beautiful women to sing and dance before him. The queen of Mūlarāja thought that a man living such a life could not be chaste and so tested his character by trying to ensnare him with her feminine charms. But Vayajalladeva proved superior to these attractions and punished the queen for her frivolity.
This story may be real or may be purely a myth but it does represent a peculiar type of men which existed in those days and which in its weaker instances has proved to be the bane of religious institutions of India. *
According to the chronology of the P. C., Srī Chamundarāja reigned for thirteen years from V. S. 1053 – to 1066 = A. D. 997 to 1010. We have already referred to his copper - plate - grant of the pseudo - Gupta Samvat 1033 ( = A. D. 977) which sanctioned a field to be given to a Jaina temple. His conquest of Lāta we have also mentioned.
1
X Compare the story of Nannasūri teaching the KāmaSastra of Vātsyāyana in his Chaitya in the Prabhāvakacharita (pp. 161 - 163 ).
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