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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
113 principally to this order passed 800 years ago, Gujarat is still mainly vegetarian. Jaina temples etc., were built as a matter of course" 314
It seems, therefore, that in his later years, the king became much influenced by Hemacandra,315 on whom he conferred the title of Kalikalasarvajna.
Inspite of this, however, it is difficult to say whether Kumärapāla was a thorough Jaina. For, even the Jaina sources admit that he worshipped Maheswara, and the epigraphs corroborate it.316 On the other hand, Rasamälä quotes an instance of the Sisodia queen of Kumarapala who committed suicide as her husband insisted on her accepting Jainism. RAY318 goes a step further when he remarks that Kumarapala accepted Jainism only as a token of gratitude for the help the Jainas did in his attaining to kingship, as also to get financial stability to the state treasury from this wealthy class.
Whatever be the motives of Kumarapala in embracing Jainism, it is certain that Jainism was greatly benefited by him. At the same time it may not be forgotten that "Kumarapala may have championed Jainism, but he did not neglect the cause of Saivism",319
With the exit of Kumarapala a reaction was set upon the royal patronage to Jainism, for his successor, Ajayapala, was a devout Saiva and an enemy of Jainism. He is said to have destroyed Jaina temples,320
Inspite of this onslaught, Jainism seems to have flourished under Jaina ministers and rich merchants. Amongst these, the names of Vastupāla and Tejapāla stand out in bold relief. Both these ministers of the Vaghelas, a branch of the Solankis, built magnificent temples at Abu, Girnar and Satrunjaya, and several epigraphs stand testimony to their Jaina allegiance. Besides this, popular support to Jainism is evidenced by
314. Op. cit., p. 236.
315. See Kumarapalacarita, Sgs. V. ff. also Kumarapalapratibodha of Somaprabha. Veraval Stone Inscr. of A.D. 1169.
316.
317. A. K. FORBES, Rās., Vol. i, pp. 192-93
318. Op. cit., Vol. ii, pp. 996-97.
319. SANKALIA, op. cit., p. 221; "Despite these extensive activities in the service of the Jaina-doctrine and to the advantage of the Jainas, Kumārapala did not completely forget the old cult of his family"-Life of Hemacandra, Engl. Transl., p. 46.
320. Prab.-Cint. p. 154.
321. Bhav. Inscri., Solanki Dyn. No. II, p. 174; No. XI, p. 214; No. XII, p. 218; E.I., viii, p. 200; GUERINOT, Ep. Jaina, Nos. 471-74; 479-80; etc. It may also be noted that Vastupala had also installed the images of the consorts of Surya: See Wat. Mus. Rep., Rajkot, 1923-24, 18, List No. 516.
BULL. DCRI.-15
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