Jain Journal 2003 10

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

Page 16

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XXXVIII. NO. 2 OCT. 2003
of the suppliants', and Samanta-cūḍāmaṇi ‘Crest-jewel of the vassals'. In the VAV, while fusing Arikesari's biographical and historical elements with legendary character of Arjuna, poet Pampa has powerfully portrayed and succesfully rendered an account of his benefactor.
Both the patron and the protege had so much in common which brought them nearer and made them dearer to each other. Pampa decried dictatorship and arrogance but cherished and relished human virtues of modesty, honesty and true cordiality. And so was Arikesari who without hesitation condemned dictatorial attitude of Govinda, his soverign overlord. But Arikesari's loyalty to the imperial monarchy was unquestionable. He was born and bred and spent his childhood in the Royal Residence of the Rashtrakutas at Malkhēḍ. Jakavve, his mother, was the sister of Indra-III (914-29). Revakanimmadi, queen consort of Arikesari, was the daughter of Indra-III. Hence Arikesari had a soft corner and allegiance to the Rashtrakuta house. In the course of the poem, the grandeur of Arjuna sharing the throne of Indra, King of gods, is in explicit identification of Arikesari, the poem's royal patron with Indra-III, the Rashtrakuta monarch and maternal uncle of Arikesari.
Poet Pampa and the inscriptions of Andhra recapitulate an historical event that mirror the impeccable and sterling character of Arikesari who did everything to comfort the afflicted. Gojjiga alias Govindaraja (930-35), the Rashṭrakūța emperor, raged against king Bijja alias Vijayāditya, a vassal, for no valid reason. When the latter sought shelter, Arikesari, also being a feudatory, held his ground, shielding and saving the grace of Vijayāditya. But the matter did not end there. The humiliated Govindaraja ordered his battalion of fief to attack and conquer Vijayāditya. Once again Arikesari thwarted the usurping Gojjiga and his battalion.
In the meanwhile, Gojjiga had appropriated the Rāshṭräkūṭa throne by dislodging Baddegadeva Amoghavarsha-III (935-39) his own Ider brother and rightful ruler. Being unseated, the deprived Baddega reached Tripuri for politcal asylum. Arikesari, extending refuge and military support, invited Baddega and restored imperial power. However, Arikesari was never overambitious to cease the