________________
36
poser of the Kudlur plates, "Marasimha was a great leader of men, a just and upright ruler, an intrepid and gifted soldier, a dispenser of justice, a patron of letters and as such deserves to be ranked among the great kings who ruled Gangavadi."
Rakkasa Ganga was the last great king of Gangavadi. "The first few years of his reign were peaceful when he devoted his time to performing works of merit and encouraging the Jaina religion which for want of royal support and hostility of other creeds were being practically starved out. He constructed a Jaina temple iu his capital and an cmbankment to the deep tank of Balarekatte (Belur)." His guru was the Jaina sage Srivijaya and he was the patron of the famous Kannada poet Nagavarma, who was a Jaina by belief and author of “Chhandambud hi'' as well as "Kadambari:"I
In short the Ganga Kings were the abode of piety aud purity and they were ideal and brave rulers. Jainism flourished well and lavishly under their patronage.
1. Refs. Rao. "The Gangas of Talked" (Mrdrns)
K. P.Jain's Samk. J. I, Vol. II Part 2. and Saletore, "Diedincral Jainism" (Bombay) pp. 10-30.
