Jain Legend Vol 3

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

Page 68

his rule, King Vall la renounced Jainism and adopted aiva religion and started inflicting cruelty on Jain monks and followers. During the prime of his rule, most probably King K a sent a huge army under the leadership of his brother in law M ra Simha (24th king of Gamga dynasty) to attack Vall la. Gamga prince M ra Simha defeated Vall la and protected Jainism and its followers like King Bhikkhga ur ya Kh ravela protected Jainism by attacking and defeating Pu ya Mitra umga.
In 972AD, the 20th ruler of R rak a dynasty, Karka (or Amogha Var a-II) was defeated by King Har a Siy la of Dhr. With this defeat and loss of their capital M nyakhe a, the R rak a dynasty, which was the profound propagator and protector of Jainism, became almost extinct.
During the long rule of R rak a dynasty, Jainism prospered and became popular in exemplary manner amongst masses and kept on growing by leaps and bounds. End of R rak a dynasty rule also brought the gradual decay and fall of Jainism in southern India.
Golden era of composing venerable descriptive literature of Jains
Not only Jainism and Jain congregation, but even the Jain literature also saw incredible progress during the rule of R rak ta dynasty. A a at by Akalamka, A asahastr by Vidy Nandi, Parik mukha S tra by M ikya Nandi, and its commentary Prameya Kamala M rta da by
Prabh Candra, a kha d gama by V ra Sena and Jaya Dhaval commentary on Ka ya P huļa by Jaya Sena, di Pura by Jina Sena, Gu a Bhadra and V ra Sena, Pryv bhvud ya by Jina Sena and Uttara Pur a and tm nu sana by Gu a Bhadra, Kavir ja M rga and Pra nottara M lik by King Amogha Var a, Ya odhar k vya and Mah Pura by Pu pa Danta in Apabhram a, Ya astilaka Campu by Soma Deva, K atra Cu ma i and poetic (gadya) composition Cint ma i by V d bha Simha Udaya Deva, popular stotra called Jw 1 m lin by Indra Nandi etc which are considered as the jewels of Jain literature were all written and composed during this golden era of the rule of R rak a dynasty. Hence it will not be out of place to call this era as the golden era of Jain literature also.
68