Kavyanushasana Part 2

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Rasiklal C Parikh, Ramchandra B Athvale
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 99

LXXVIII
Kavyanusasana in the Kathāsaritsāgara we find a Vidyādhara, who had to take birth in the family of a merchant, being born in the city of Valabhi as a son to a very rich merchant and bearing the name of Vasudatta.- He is ordered by his father to go to other parts for business etc. (T. 22; p. 85). In the same work, again, we find Devasena of Pāțaliputra going to Valabhi for trade - business * leaving his wife Kīrtisenā to the tender mercies of his mother. (Taranga 29 p. 130 K. S.).
We pause here for a while to review the state of different religions in Gujarāt from the Kshatrapa rule to the Maitraka rule. Judging from the coins of Kshatrapas and the copper - plates of Maitrakas, we find that the state religion, or to be more precise, the royal religion was Şaivism. “This Saivism seems to have been of the old Pasupata school of Nakulisa or Lakulisa as the chief shrine of Lakulisa was at Karavana” (p. 83 B. G.). * As a result of the missionary activities of Asoka Buddhism seems to have made good head - way amongst the people as well as in the
: अचिरेणैव जातोऽ हं भूतले वणिजां कुले ।
नगया वलभीनाम्न्यां महाधनाणिकसुतः । वसुदत्ताभिधानः सन् वृद्धिं च गतवानहम् । (श्लो. ५९-६०) x एकदा स पतिस्तस्या देवसेनो वणिज्यया ।
गन्तुं प्रववृते बन्धुप्रेरितो वलभी पुरीम् ॥
* According to the latest researches of Mr. Ratnamanirao Skambha or Skambhatīrtha -- the old Sansk!ta name for Khambhàta - was the original home of Lipga - worship and that Gujarat was known as Lāta to foreigners because it worshipped Lata - or the stone - phallus. See for this interesting theory 'History of Khambháta: by Mr. Ratnamaņirao. Principal Anandsbanker Dhruva, however, and some other scholars also, do not agree with this view.