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An Epitome of Jainism
Ganga Râja was the minister of Viṣnuvardhana, a king of the Hoysala dynasty, who ruled in the 12th century A.D. In an inscription dated about 1160 A.D., we find the praise of Ganga Râja and Châmuṇḍa Râya, together with that of Hulla, as follows:
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"If it be asked who in the beginning were firm promoters of the Jina doctrine (i.e. in Śravana Belgola)-(they were) Ráya, the minister of king Râchamalla; after him, Ganga, the minister of king Vişņu, and after him, Hulla, the minister of king Nrsimhadeva: if any others could claim as much, would they not be mentioned ?"'*
Besides the inscription at the foot of the image announcing that Châmunda Râya established the same, we find reference to this in another inscription, dated about 1180 A.D., in the following manner :
"Combining in himself wisdom, religion, glory, high character and valour, the moon of the Ganga race was Râchamalla, fan.ed in all the world. That king's second in glory (his minister Châmuṇḍa Râya), equal to Manu, was it not he that had this Gommata made by his own effort ?"
The three statues represent Vâhuvali or Bhujavali, also known as Gommatesvara, who was the son of Adijina Risabhanâtha, the first Tirthankara of the Jains. Risabhadeva, according to tradition, was a king, and had two wives, Nandâ (some say Sumangalâ) and Sunandâ. Nandâ or Sumangalâ gave birth to the twins, Bharata and Brâhmî, a boy and a girl, the former of whom was placed on the throne by Risabhadeva, when he retired to seek absolute knowledge. Vâhuvali and his sister Sundarî, were born of Sunandâ, and the former ascended the throne of Takṣa-śilâ (modern Taxila), when his father distributed his kingdom among his sons. Bharata had possession of a wonderful Chakra (discus), which could not be withstood by any warrior in fight. With the help of this Chakra, Bharata conquered the earth and retruned to his capital. But the discus would not enter the capital (or, according to another account, the armoury). Bharata then took this as a sign that there was still another territory on earth which had not been conquered by him, and, after reflection, came to the conclusion that there was only the kingdom of Takṣa-śilā, ruled by his brother Bhujavali, which had not been subdued by him: Bharata then declared war on his brother Bhujavali, and in the terrible fight that followed, Bhujavali was victorious. Even the discus of Bharata could do no harm to Bhujavali. But Bhujavali, though victorious, suddenly became lost in meditation, thinking of the vanity of this world. Bharata made obeisance to Bhujavali and returned to his place; but Bhujavali went to the summit of Kailâśa mountain, remained standing there (or, according to another account, stood on the very field
Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. II, Introduction, page 34. Hulla was the minister of Narasimha I, of the Hoysala dynasty, who ruled in the 12th century A.D.
† Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. II, page 154. The line speaking of the construction of the image is~~“चामुण्डरायं मनुप्रतिमं गोम्मदं अल्ते माडिसिदन् इन्ती देवनं यत्न दिम्”
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