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XVII. RELIGIOUS POSITION
A.K. Majumdar' has dealt with various aspects of the religious position of the Caulukyas from various sources including the Dvyāśrayakāvya. In the following pages, I have restricted myself to the study as reflected in the Dvyāśrayakāvya only.
In the time of Mūlarāja Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism were flourishing in harmony in Gujarat. It conutinued upto the reign of Jayasimha and Kumārapāla who declared Jainism as a state-religion due to the personal influence of Hemacandra. When Jainism was declared as a state-religion, some of the Brāhmaṇas were jealous of Jain-caityas and opposed the proposal. They were consoled by Jayasimha (XV.17). Although the kings were tolerant for all the religions equally, there was a constant discordance between Hinduism and Jainism.
Some of the non-Aryan races were against Hinduism of whom Grāharipu can be said to be the representative. They charged taxes from the sages and drew them with a string in their nose (II.69). Even in Jain-temples, some of the rituals were introduced like those of Hindu temples. It was an influence of Hinduism over Jainism. On the other hand the concept of Ahimsã was being adopted in Hinduism in various aspects when Kumārapāla prohibited the oblation of an animal in the sacrifice (XX.30).
1. Majumdar, A.K. Chaulukas of Gujarat, Bombay, 1956. pp.286-333.
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