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Kannada Literature / 161
5.6.5.4. C'Rayapuraṇam of the illustrious Raya is one of the early prose compositions in Kannada language, only next to Ārādhanā Karṇāṭa Tikā (Vaḍdārādhane) of Bhrājṣṇu (C. 800). Raya, famous general and minister in the service of the final Ganga rulers, furnishes real historical details of the exploits of war in which he himself participated and lead the troops to victory. C'Raya, hero of many decisive battles has recorded valuable information about the penultimate Ganga rulers as feudal tenents of the Rāṣṭrakūtas, their over lords.
5.6.5.5. He thwarted many fearless warrior. Conspicnous among the enemies that he foiled wereRājāditya, Räca, Govindarasa, Rācaya, Vajvala in the Khēḍaga battle, Nolamba near Gōnür, Rājāyita in Ucchangi, Tribhuvanavira in Bāgeyur, Nṛkāma and Mudurācaya. Since he fought single-handed with Rājāyita at Ucchangi, he got the title of Ranaranga-simha.
5.6.5.6. C' Raya had a sound knowledge of Jaina canonical and pontiffical chronicler. He was a pupil of Ajitasēna, the greatest of the coeval Jaina patriarchs of his period. It is only after the year 978 that the became the disciple of Nemicandra siddhanti who composed Gommaṭasāra for the benifit of Raya, in 982 C.E, in Prakrit.
5.6.5.7. He has referred to some eminent ascetics and authors, quotes profusely sevaral gathas and slokas from various sources, from early Jaina texts. His quotations from Kaviparameṣṭhi and Jaṭāsimhanandi has helped to inentify their works. Some verses of Vägartha samgraha/gadya-kathā are found only in this work. It is through Raya's work that the identify of Jaṭasimhanandi and Varängacarita was rightly established, and Jaṭārya, Jatācārya Jaṭāsimhanandi being the names of one and the same monk was finalised. 5.6.5.8. One of the five works authored by Ranna, who
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