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Introduction
CXIII
capital of Aşahilla pataka). There, Ninnaya built a temple of Rşhabha - the first Tīrthamkara of the Jainas.
This Ninnaya had a son named Lahara who was a general of the armies of Vanarāja. This Lahara went to the Vindhya Mountains and caught many elephants; he also defeated many kings with the intention of taking away their elephants.' He was a devotee of the goddess Vindhyavāsinī in whose honour he built a temple in a village called Sandathala. Lahara believed that it was the favour of this goddess who entered his bow (dhanush ) which enabled him to conquer his enemies easily. The author of the Praşasti tells us that the goddess is known there after the name of Lahara - Dhanuhāvī (because she was the presiding deity of his dhanush (i. e. bow ). Lahara presented his elephants to Vanarāja who 'being satisfied with his work' rewarded him with the grant of the village Sandathala.
This geneologist of the Prāgvāta family tells us that Lahara was favoured both by the goddess LacchiLakshmi and the goddess Sarasai - Sarasvati - that is – he was favoured both by Fortune and Learning.
This account enables us to imagine as to how Vanarāja got the help of powerful and rich persons in strengthening his army and treasury.
We learn from the Prabandhachintāmaņi that Vanarāja invited Silaguņasūri from Panchasara and showed his gratitude by requesting him to occupy his throne and accept his whole kingdom which naturally the sage refused. At his suggestion, however, he built a chaitya - a temple - which was known as the Panchāsara chaitya in which the idol of Párşvanātha
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