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Gommafeśvara Commemoration Volume
Besides, on the smaller hill (cikkabetta), in Sravanabelgola, he is said to have constructed Cāmundarāya basadi or temple, which bears his name., An inscription in this temple says that this Cāmundarāyaba sadi was constructed by him. Recently Dr. B. R. Gopal has denied Cāmundarāya's authorship of this temple, because he thinks that the characters of the inscription which says that he built it belonged to the 11th century, that is, a century later than Camundarāya's time. It is possible that the temple was built by Camundarāya in the 10th century and the inscription saying that he constructed it was put up a century later, when additions to the temple may have been made. His son Jinadevan also got constructed some portions of this temple probably the upper storey.
Like his master, Mārasimha III, Cāmundarāya was the disciple of Ajitasena and Nemicandra- great Jaina saints of the times who inspired him to serve the Jaina religion by his literary and artistic creations. Camundarāya was a devout Jaina and his place in Jaina history is correctly estimated by a later record which praises him as one of the chief promoters of the Jaina religion and classes him with Ganga Rāja, minister of Hoysala Vişnuvardhana and Hulla, minister of Hoysala Narasimha I.
While posterity judged him correctly, his contemporaries did not fail to recognise his merit. This they did by showering upon him a string of titles. We have already mentioned above his military titles Viramartanda and Raņarangasinga. In addition, for his defeating of Vajvaladeva, he got the title of Samaradurandhara or leader in war. For his noble character and service to his religion, Jainism, he was called Samyaktvaratnākara. He was also known as Satyayudhisthira for his reputation of not telling a lie even in jest. But the title which was most used to describe him was Rāya-- a title affectionately bestowed on him by his King, Rācamalla.
Thus lived and died, Cāmundarāya, who by his loyalty to his kings, military ability, literary talent, patronage of poets and artists and above all by his devotion to his religion and by leading an exemplary life has left a name to conjure with
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Küdlür plates (M. A. R. 1921, para 50) and Sravanabelgola 64 of Mārasimha give all his military exploits. We get an idea of the battles in which Cāmundarāya fought on the side of Mārasimha in Sravanabelgola 388. Camundaraya Purana gives his family history as well as his innumerable titles.
B. Sheik Ali's History of the Western Gangas contains the latest account of Camupdarāya. Mysore Gazetteer ed. C. Hayavadana Rao Vol. II, Part II pages 676-687 has a valuable account of the subjet on which I have relied most. Similarly R. S, Mugali's Kannada Sahitya Caritre pp. 112-114 and K. Bhujabali Sastri's 'Viramārthanda Cāvundaraya' in Karnataka Sahitya Parishat Patrike Vol. xv, pp. 28-32 are helpful for the literary activities of Cāmurdarāya. For his patronage
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