Jain Legend Vol 4

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

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unworthy, King Jaip la solemnly mounting a funeral pyre burned himself and died.
After a few years a ruler named Abula Fataha Dawood of Multan declared himself independent and stopped paying land revenue to Maham da. When Maham da was about to attack Dawood, nandap la lent his support to Dawood to take revenge on Maham da. Enraged by this, Maham da deployed his army against nandap la in Vikram 1066.
By that time, many kings of India were strongly determined to uproot the Muslim rule by hook or crook by joining forces for this common purpose. nandap la sent his ambassadors to various kings soliciting their support to foil the invasion of Maham da and to destruct his formidable army. A ravenous desire to evict the Muslim plunderers out of India once and for all emerged like a tidal wave in the hearts of all the Indians. Consequently, women from all corners of India sold their ornaments and mobilised a large amount of money and sent to
nandap la as aid to fight against Maham da. About 30,000 Gakkhara warriors resolute to crush Maham da in the battlefield and help
nandap la joined his army. The rulers of Ujjain, Gwalior, Kalinjara, Kanauja, Delhi and Ajmer also came forward along with their troops to support nandap la. Thus nandap la could assemble a powerful confederacy to wage war against Maham da. The Indian army encamped for about 40 days near Peshawar. After a long wait, the army of Maham da fronted the Indian army and Maham da ordered his archers to create a stampede with a bombardment of blazing naphtha arrows. The force of 30,000 wild Gakkhara warriors fought the Sultan's army with such ferocity that they surged ahead pushing back the archers, burst into the enemy's camp, slaying the enemies. In the decimating battle, within a short time the powerful Gakkhara warriors have slaughtered 5000 soldiers of Maham da. Just when Indians were close to gaining victory, a stray burning arrow pierced deep into the head of the elephant on which
nandap la was sitting. Owing to the burning fires of naphtha, the panicstricken elephant with excruciating screams fled from the battlefield. The Indian army thought that Rj nandap la was turning tail to the war and fleeing. With this apprehension, the army of other six kings also retreated from the battlefield, turning the tide in favour of Gajanav . The victory which would have been in their hands in a few moments, resulted in a defeat in spite of the Indian army being so strong and resolute.
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