Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 209

immemorial. The kings who invade the other lands to expand their territories cannot be counted. But the one who takes the risk of war to protect his co-religionist subjects, from the atrocities of a powerful king, is a true king and such examples are seldom found in history.
King Kh rvela not only enhanced the glory of Kalimga by his most valuable contributions for the progress of Jain religion and culture but also protected the Jain monks and followers from the brutality of the Magadha King Pu yamitr mga alias Brahaspati by invading and defeating & punishing him twice.
On the basis of inscriptions, some historians opine that the Kalimga King Kh rvela belonged to the Chedi dynasty while others believe him to be of the Caitra dynasty.
In Himavamta Sthavir val it is mentioned that Kh ravela was of Ce aka dynasty and the story goes along these lines: Ce aka, the King of Vai li was defeated by K ika in a war; after the death of his father Ce aka, his son obhanar ya went to Sulocana, his father-in-law, the king of Kalimga. King Sulocana had no heir; hence he declared his son-in-law as his heir-apparent. Consequently, after the death of Sulochan,
obhanar ya ascended the throne. Kh ravela is of the tenth generation of obhanar ya, the son of King Ce aka.
The fourfold congregation, organized by Kh ravela to reconstitute the canonical texts was attended by rya Balissaha and 200 other rama as equaling to Jinakalpi monks (whose conduct is modelled upon that of Mah v ra), rya Susthita and 300 Sthavira Kalpi monks, female-monk
ry Poya and 300 others, Bik ur ja, S vamda, C r aka, Selaka and 500 Votaries, and Pur amitr (the queen of Kh ravela) and 500 Femalevotaries. Yielding to the request of Kh ravela, those monks inscribed the doctrines of Mah v ra in a unanimously acclaimed form, on cortices of Birch and Palmyra leaves; thus he safeguarded the Dw da mg, preached by Sudharm
In V.N. 323 Pu yamitr mga became the king of Magadha by killing V hadratha, the last emperor of the Maurya dynasty. Usurping the kingdom he started tormenting the Buddhist and Jain monks. As soon as he became aware of these facts, King Kh ravela attacked Pu yamitrin
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