Jain Journal 1968 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 34

GUJARAT DURING THE AGE
OF HEMACANDRA
AK MAJUMDAR
Hemacandra was born in the village Dhandhuka (Ahmedabad District) on the full moon night of Kartika of VS 1145 (NovemberDecember, 1088) and died in VS 1229 (A D 1172), thus his life covered the most glorious period of Gujarat's history
The Caulukya dynasty of Gujarat was founded by Mularaja I in CAD 940, but the dynasty gained importance during the reign of his great-grandson Bhima I (CAD 1021-1065), who, with the aid of his Kalachuri allies, brought about the downfall of the great Paramara Emperor Bhoja (CAD 1000-1055) Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Gujarat and sacked the temple of Somanatha within a year of Bhima's accession, but Gujarat quickly recovered from the effects of the Turkish raid
Hemacandra was born during the reign of Bhima's son and successor, Karna (CAD 1065-1093) Karna was an able king, but hrs reign lacks lustre because he had the misfortune to come after his father, a great king, and was succeeded by his son, Jayasimha Siddharaja, the greatest king of Gujarat, who along with his protege, Hemacandra, may be said to have given Gujarat a permanent identity or individuality
Jayasimha Siddharaja, or Siddharaja as he is usually called, was a minor when he ascended the throne after his father's death During the early part of his reign he was protected and guided by his mother Mayanalladevi originally a Kadamba princess, whose marriage with Karna seems to have had a romantic background, and supplied the theme for Bilhana's drama, the Karnasundari She seems to have been a re