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protection of their goddess, but they always stood in awe of her and had misgivings about provoking her wrath by withholding the traditional sacrifice. They firmly believed that if the goddess was provoked, the Chalukya dynasty would be annihilated or Patan would be destroyed by her enemies. Their hearts were heavy with gloomy forebodings.
Kumarpal was prepared to risk anything to uphold his principle of not taking any life. His determination was as inflexible as his faith in his great guru, Acharya Shree Hemachandra. His faith and reverence were shared by his people.
On the eve of the Nava-Ratri festival, he held a meeting of his lords, and awaited the arrival of Acharya Shree. When he arrived, all stood up to welcome this personality, brilliant as the sun, calm as the moon, pure as gold, fresh as the lotus. As Acharya Hemachandra took his seat, the atmosphere was charged with devotion and expectation.
In his deep and sonorous voice, Acharya Shree addressed the people. "Citizens, it is incumbent on us to offer animal sacrifice to the goddess; there is no question of withholding it. We dare not offend our patron goddess. At all costs, we must please her, or else face calamity."
The flesh-eating votaries of the goddess rejoiced at his words, but all wondered how the apostle of nonviolence to all living things, could openly
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