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INTRODUCTION.
anira
the Jaina religion. There are records which establish heyond loubt that the kings of the Ganga dynasty were the promoters anil protectors of Jainism. Numerous inscriptions, cating from the fourtlı to the twelfth century A. D., testify to the building of Jaina temples, consecration of Jaina images of worship, hollowing out caves for Jaina ascetics and grants to Jaina Acharyas by the rulers of the (ianga dynasty. In this dynasty there was a king, named Narasimha II, men
tioned in the inscriptions as Dharma-MahirajaMarasimha II.
dhiraja Satyava kya Kongrnivarmi-l'armânali Môrasimha. The reign of this king was conspicuous by great and decisive victories over the Cheras, the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Pallavas of the Nolambadi country. The most notable success of Marasimha II against his enemies was that against Vajjala-leva, and his most terrible fights were fought at Conûr and chchangi. Faithful to the doctrines of Jainism, this great king, after a glorions reign, abdicated his throne and gave up his life by a three days' fast, in the presence of his spiritual preceptor, the great Ajitasena, at Bankâpur, in the Dharwar district. The epitaph of Marasimla II is contained in the inscription engraved on the four sides of the base of the pillar known as Kûge Brahmadeva Khambha, near the entrance to the temples on Chandragiri Hill, at Sravana Belgola (Mysore) S. Though this inscription is without date, the year of the death of Marasimha II is inferred from another inscription to he -975 A. D. 1
Châmundaraya or Châmundarâja was the worthy minister of Chamaņqaraya.
this great king. It is the heroism of this minister
that enabled Marasimha II to win his great battles against Vajjala and those fought at Gonar and Uchchangi. In an inscription at Srayana Belgola, we have an eulogy of Châmundaraya in the following terms:
Châmundarâja, the sun adorning, like a jewel, the head of the eastern mountain of the Brahma-kşatra race, the moon increasing by the rays of fame the waters of the Brahma-kşatra race, a jewel in the garland sprung from the mountain containing the mine of the
Vide Inscription No. 38. Inscriptions at śravaņa Belgola' by Lewis Rice.
Vide Inscription at Melâgani, quoted in the footnote to the Introduction to the Inscriptions at Bravana Belgola (Lewis Rice), page 18. Vide also, Epigraphia Indica,' Vol. V, Inscription No. 18.
