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THE JAINA GAZETTE ters. Asvaraja was a devoted husband, a loving father and a dutiful son. He took his aged mother seven times in a palanquin to the holy Mis, Satrunjaya and Girnar and there is epigraphic evidence to show that during two of his pilgrimages he made one in A.D. 1193 (Vik. Sam. 1249) and the other in A.D. 1194 Vastupala was also with the party. He evinced deep interest in the works of public utility and sank wells, excavated tanks and built temples. On his death, Kumaradevi removed to a petty village, Mandli, where with motherly care she looked after the training and education of her children, the future support of the family.
Vastupala was married to Lalitadevi 1 while Tejahpala had Anupama 2 to wife. According to Merutunga, Anupama, though a plain-looking damsel was possessed of great virtues of the head and the heart and exercised considerable influence over her husband.
The Vaghela Kingdom was built on the ruins of the Chaulukya empire. Bhima II. (A. D. 1178-1241) proved an imbecile ruler. Under him, the Chaulukya government which had lost its old vigour and power of cohesion was rapidly going down to pieces. It was a period of disruption. The authority of the king was disputed by his over-powerful vassals and his word carried no weight. He no doubt enjoyed the semblance of royalty but the actual power had long departed from his sceptre. While Bhima was struggling to restore his supremacy in the north, Lavanaprasada established himself practically as an independent ruler at Dholka extending his sway over the country between the Sabarmati and the Narbada in the south as well as over the districts of Dholka and Dhandhuka. The usurper, so far as we know always professed to be a viceregent of his liege lord and sovereign, the emperor of Anhilwad-Pattan and was never in open rebellion against him. As a prudent man, he cared more for the substance than for the shadow. His attitude towards Bhima may be compared to that of the British
i. She gurvived her husband. 2. Died during the life-time of Les husband. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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