Some Aspects of Indian Culture

SR No.: 001132
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A S Gopani, Nagin J Shah, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 211
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Discourse
File Size: 15 MB

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Jainism in Gujarata
building a Jaina temple Rajavihara46 where an image of Rsabhadeva was installed by Siddharaja. He had also honoured Amaracandra and Ananda with the titles of Vyaghrajijuka' and Simbajisuka 48 respectively. The king had such a love for Virarya that he was rendered unable to go away from the city by ordering the gates to be closed when Virarya was about to move out. He was also presented with the Jayapataka by the king when he inflicted a defeat upon Vadisimha, a dialectician, with the help of Govindasari. Siddharaja had also constructed a Jaina temple of Suvidhinatha the 9th Tirthankara. All these actions of Siddharaja prove his deep-seated sympathy for Jainism of which he made no secret.
When Kumarapala came to the throne, Jainism was at its zenith. All the important posts were filled by the Jainas and key positions guarded by them. Thus Jainism found a good deal of convenience for its spread and development when it became a religion of the royal persons openly, the subjects also prided themselves on adopting it. The wisdom of the Jaina monks lay in securing the royal patronage. Moreover, the Jaina saints spared no pains to help the royal persons tide over their difficulties. They brightened their spirits in their gloomy moments; they had led them to light from darkness; in short they doctored them so far as their spiritual health was concerned. Thus when they came to power, they did not forget the real obligation of the Jaina monks and Jainism. They discharged it in a number of ways referred to before and which shall be referred to now.
Udayana was now no more. His place was taken by his illustrious sons. Ambaḍa inflicted a defeat on Mallikarjuna of Konkana and earned for him the title of Rajapitamaha'.5 Vahada was a brave warrior and a brilliant literary mana curious admixture of two incompatible merits. He wrote the Vägbhaṭalankara and was raised to premiership. Cahada and Sollaka, the third and the fourth sons, occupied responsible posts. Thus Jainism found favourable winds in its voyage. It gave the message of deliverance to the suffering humanity. Animal-slaughter and a long train of vices associated with it were prohibited by ordinance. Special grants and concessions were given to the Jainas as per royal firmans. Old Jain temples were repaired, broken images were restored and new ones were set up. Scribes were employed to copy the books on palm-leaves or papers. Bhandars were established and art and architecture were unsurpassingly perfected.
Sakunikavihara Tirtha at Broach was repaired by Ambaka, the son of Rapiga and a pavement of some stone was carved out to the Mount Girnar by the same gentleman.51 Kumarapala's ardent love for Jainism is fully demonstrated by his visits to the Satrunjaya off and on, by his 1600052 reparations of old Jaina temples, and by placing golden jars on 144453 temples of the Jainas. He built quite a good number of new Jaina temples of which "Kumāravihara'54 is the first. It was set up, at Patan under the supervision of Vahada and the sons of Gargajetha. That Vihara (a collective term) contained twenty-four Jaina temples. "Tribhuvanavihara" was the next big Vihara that was formed of seventy-two small Jaina temples, Twenty-four Jaina