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130
"[Ħoly Abu
Somasundara sūri writing in his Arbudagiri-kalpa in the fifteenth century of the Vikrama era (c. 1450-1499 V.S.) says that Bhimā Shāha had first erected the shrine with a metal image of Ādīshvara as the mūlanāyaka, and that it was being repaired when he was composing the Arbudagirikalpa. Thus the temple was already existing in V.S. 1489 (1432-3 A.D.) and that the image at present worshipped was installed by Sundara and Gadā in 1525 V.S. (1468-9 A.D.) after the Jirņoddhāra (repairs). It may be inferred that repairs were undertaken after about a century or more from the date of erection of the shrine. Such an interval would be necessary unless it was badly demolished in some invasion. Four inscriptions in the Vimala Vasahi, dated in the Vikrama years 1350, 1372, 1372, and 13731 show that at that time only two shrines—the Vimala and the Luņa Vasahis-existed at Delvādā. The date of erection of the Pittalahara temple, also known as the shrine of Bhimā Shāha, therefore, falls between V. S. 1373 and 1489 (1316 and 1433 A.D.).
The image installed by Sundara and Gadā, Gurjara Shrimālis by caste, and consecrated by Shri Lakşmisāgara sūri, weighed 108 maunds according to the inscription on it. According to Guruguņaratnākara-kāvya, Sundara and his son Gadā or Gadarāja were ministers of Sultan Mahamūd Begadā at Ahmedabad. Being high placed officers they had several facilities and with others provided by rulers of the IŅar and other states, they led a Saṁgha on a pilgrimage to Ābu. Gadā had also erected a Jaina shrine at Sojitrā in Gujarāt, at a total cost of thirty thousand Drammas. 8
1 Ābu, Vol. II, Inscriptions nos. 240-243. 2 Ābu, Vol. II. Inscription no. 407.
3 Guruguņaratnākara-kāvya, sarga 3, verses 12-33. Gadā is said to have spent a lac of gold coins in the consecration
