Political History of Northern India

SR No.: 001744
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gulabchandra Chaudhary
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 482
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Culture
File Size: 10 MB

Page 309

THE DYNASTIES OF RAJASTHANA
279
wealthy men. Foremost among the scholars was Jain monk Hemacandra. He carried on multifarious religious activities with his headquarters at Anahilapäțaka. Round him was a circle of eminent scholars. Most of them were his pupils. Poet Rāmacandra, who wrote several works, was his chief pupil. Poet Srīpāla and his son Siddhapäla also were the eminent poets of the time. 1
His religion and reforms: In his Dvyaśraya-kavya Hemacandra states that soon after the wars were over Kumāra pāla prohibited killing of animals in Gujarat. The king published the edict to protect animals and he gave up the custom of confiscating the property of those who died without leaving behind an heir.3 Later on he rebuilt the temple of Siva at Kedara, or Kedāranātha in Garhwal4 and at Devapattana in Kathiawar.5 He erected two temples of Pārsvanātha, one at Anahilavāda and another at Devapattana named Kumāravihāra. The last two events of Kumārapāla's reign mentioned in the Duyaśraya-kavya are the building of a temple of Siva in Anahilaväda? and the foundation of a new era after his name.8 The Mahavira-carita of Hemacandra states that, after the acquaintance with the great teacher Hemacandra, he heard with great delight the noble sermon about the law from his lips and then he took the minor vows and strove for their fulfilment and so on. These statements clearly show that Kumārapäla was inclined towards the Jainism. The later Prabandhas, however, claim that Kumāra pāla gave up Saivism to embrace Jainism. The conversion of the king is allegorically mentioned as his marriage with princess Krpāsundari, i.e., the beautiful Mercy, the daughter of Dharmaraja and Viratidevī. According to the quotation of Jinamandana from the Moharāja-parajaya this marriage took place in V.E. 1216, Märga, Sudi 2.10 Since the Moharaja-parajaya was written a few years after the death of
1 M. D. Deasi, Jain Sahityano Itihās, Pt. III, Chapters 4-7. 2 DV., Canto XX, Vs. 5-37: 799 à gor r a ATTE #Fitchy: 1 3 Ibid., Vs. 38-88: TERTETESI eat gat g: a * #: 1
अथ प्रजा नन्दयितैक एकाममात्यमैकमिति न्यदिक्षत् ॥ - Ibid., Vs. 90-93. • Ibid., V. 94. 6 Ibid., Vs. 98-100. 7 Ibid., V. IOI. 8 Ibid., V. 102: TOPriau fai dari TT $ Canto XII, Vs. 45-96.
10 Life of Hemacandra, p. 90: a hujayr: Hyrcaf: 9894 ATT सु. २ दिने पाणिं जग्राह कुमारपालः ।