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impossible achievement in the dhusama age,Kumarapala had owed his throne to selection by the principal person (pradhana-purusas) at the court, who had been impressed by his capabilities. Having become a successful ruler Kumarapala developed religious enquiry in course of time. He felt dissatisfied with the sacrificial religion of the Brahmanas and listened to Hemacandra who was introduced by Vagbhatadeva. In the first place Kumarapala accepted the rule of jivadaya. He not only renounced all meat himself but issued a proclamation that no animals were to be killed. This was called amari-pataha in the Jaina tradition from early days. In the second place he was advised to give up gambling which the king forbade in the kingdom. He also gave up drinking and discontinued the practice of escheat by which the kings used to resume the wealth of certain categories of the dead despite the wailing of women. This used to be called rudatidhanam. The new comapssionate regulation was hailed as a great innovation. The king took up the worship of the Jina in earnestness and caused many temples to be erected. He also engaged in pilgrimages to famous religious places.
After jiva daya the king was instructed in the virtue of charity (dana). Knowledge is the supreme virtue for which a tradition of students and scholars is required. To provide those engaged in the pursuit of knowledge with their material necessities also amounts to participating in the gift of knowledge jnana-dana). Similarly to protect the lives of living creatures and save them from being killed is a the 'gift of security' (abhaya-dana) one who gives such a gift to others is freed from fear in his own life. Charity may consist in the gift of food, drink, clothes, dwelling, furniture, etc. It has to be pure in four dimensions - the giver, the recipient, occasion, and attitude. The giver should be enlightened and of firm faith not seeking any personal gain and without any pride. Gifts to the ascetics are best but one should not give them wealth and land. The pure recipient is passionless, disciplined, detached, engaged in study. What is given must be obtained piously and the recipient should also be pious. What is the use of washing clothes in blood or giving milk to snakes. The proper occasion of charity is when the ascetic needs it physically. The proper attitude of charity is that of gratefulness and personal disinterest.
Since the acceptance of royal charity was forbidden to Jaina monks and Hemacandra refused to accept alms from the king, the latter decided to distribute free food to lay followers or sravakas. The king opened a charitable establishment (sattragara) with halls for eating (bhojanasabha). He also built a place for religious observances (Pausadhasala) and put the sresthin Abhayakumara in its charge. Here food and clothes
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