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Introduction
XLIII
(A. D. 238-249) to Visvasena (A. D. 296 - 300) at least, the Gujarat power had spread in the Deccan. (B. G. pp. 48 - 49 ).
There is a mutilated Kshatrapa inscription - No. 9 of the Historical Inscriptions of Gujarat - which gives no date but mentions the names of Chashṭana and Jayadaman. The Kshatrapa that may have been intended is probably the great-grandson of Chashṭana and grandson of Jayadaman. In that case he would be Dāmājaḍasri son of Rudradāman. This inscription mentions Girinagara as the place where something is done. It mentions Kevali (Jpā )na sam (?...prāpta) nam...jarāmarana'. From the occurence of the word Kevali, it appears to be a Jaina inscription, because, this word is generally used by Jainas in the sense of one who has attained to omniscience.
So this inscription may be taken to imply the existence of the followers of Jainism in Saurashtra in the second century A. D.
The power of the Kshatrapas was destroyed by Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty, and Western India including Gujarat and Surashtra was annexed to the Gupta Empire. Rudrasimha son of Satyasimba was attacked, dethroned and killed. Vincent Smith puts this event in the year 395 A. D.
8
Before we come to the Gupta rule over Gujarat we may take notice of the Traikuṭakas. We have three copper plate grants of the Traikurakas. One from Pardi of the king Dahrasena dated Sam. 207; another from Surat of the king Vyaghrasena dated
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