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THE JAINA GAZETTE
VOL. XXIII.2
MADRAS
S WHOLE No. 4. § APRIL 1927.
No. 262. KUMARAPALA CHAULUKYA. THE JAINA EMPEROR OF WESTERN INDIA.
BY Umrao Singh Tank, B.A., LL.B. VUMARAPALA ruled for thirty-one years from A.D. 1143 to 1) A.D. 1174 over a vast territory extending from the hilly regions of the Hindukush to the plains of Maharashtra. The Kumarpala-prabandha gives the following limits of his sway. The Turks on the North; the Ganges on the East; the Vindhya mountains on the South : the Ocean on the West. "Considering his greatness as a king and conqueror " observes an eminent writer " historical record of Kumarapala is meagre and incomplete. Materials may still come to light which will show his power to have been surprisingly widespread." Under him the Chaulukyan empire reached its widest limits and enjoyed uninterrupted peace and prosperity. In fact it came to be regarded as the richest, if not the most warlike monarchy in India. Kumarapala, like his forefathers was a votary of Siva but in A.D. 1159 in consequence of the teaching of the great Jaina teacher Hemachandra' he became a convert to Jainism. He, then endeavoured to conduct himself as an ideal Jaina ruler and breathed into the administration that spirit of love and kindness which is the chief characteristic of the great faith he had adopted.
1. Hemachandra was born in A.D, 1089 at Dhandhuka and died in A.D. 1172.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
