Jainism in Gujarat

Author(s): Chimanlal Bhailal Sheth
Publisher: Godiji Jain Temple Mumbai

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The accounts of the later chroniclers clearly bring out the fact that Kumarapala had become a foot-ball of fortune before he came to the throne. The same is confirmed by contemporary evidence. The Kumārapālapratībodha says that Kumarapala, thinking one day that he must practise dharma as he had come to the throne after passing through many vicissitudes of life, told his minister his desire to know real religion.2 We, moreover, find a reference to his wanderings in a verse in the Moharājaparājaya which says, "To whom is this prince of the Gurjaras, the banner of the Chaulukya race not known, who through curiosity wandered alone through the whole world "3 Hemasuri's silence on this
Chalukya after his accession to the throne of Anahilavida (Western Indra, p. 141). Uncorroborated as Tod's statement 15, we shall have to reject, it in the light of the evidence of Hemastri who traces his descent from Bhimadeva. Hemasuri's statement confirmed by a Chitoda inscription of the reign of is Kumarapala.
According to Merutunga, Kumārapāla's great grandmother was a courtezan, but the statement is not confirmed by other evidence.
2. Somaprabha, Kumarapalapratibodha, P. 5
3 Mokarājaparajaya,, I, 28; Kielhorn, Report (188081), p. 34.