Comprehensive History of Jainism Volume II

Author(s): Aseem Kumar Chaterjee
Publisher: Firma KLM Pvt Ltd

Page 25

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA
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worship Ajitasvämir, the Jain Tirthankara, when he was engaged in war against Arnorāja, the Cāhamāna king of Śākambhari. But we should remember that Arņorāja was bumbled before V.S. 1208, the date of a Jain manuscript entitled Pūjāvidhāna, 111 which refers to his victory over the king of śākambhari. Kumārapāla continued to assume Śaiva titles, long after his victory over the Šākambhari king. Therefore, it is difficult to accept the claim of the author of the Prabhāvaka that Kumāra pāla became a Jain before his final victory over the king of Śākambhari. Much more important and significant is the statement of Yaśaḥpāla, the author of the play Moharajaparājaya, 112 who gives the exact date of the conversion of this monarch to the Jain faith viz. Vikrama Samvat 1216 or 1160 A.D. The passage containing this date of the Moharājaparājaya, a play written in the short reign of Ajayaşāla (V.S. 1229-32) is quoted in Jinamandana's Kumār apalacarita. 118 Since this work was written by a contemporary of both Kumāra pāla and Hemacandra, its evidence cannot be questioned. It should further be remembered that in a Jain grant of the time of Kumārapāla, 116 dated V.S. 1213, found from Nadol in Rajasthan, Kumārafāla is not given any Jain title. In the Jain manuscript entitled Prthvicandracaritra116, dated V.S. 1212, Kumārapāla is also given Saiva titles. Therefore, it would be quite reasonable to accept the surmise of Bühler that Kumārapāla accepted Jainism only after his conquests were over. 116
Before we make a detailed discussion regarding Kumārapāla's religious activities after his conversion to Jain religion, we should reproduce the relevant passages of Hemacandra's Mahaviracarita, 117 which is the 10th parvan of his celebrated Trișaștišalākāçuruşacaritra. These verses give a short yet authentic account of Kumārapāla's religious activities. Hemacandra here makes Lord Mabāyira deliver a propbecy on Kumāra pāla's reign. We are reproducing below the passage :-"when, O Abhaya, 1669 years will have passed after my Nirvāņa, then there will live in that city