Life of Hemchandracharya

Author(s): Manilal Patel
Publisher: Singhi Jain Shastra Shiksha Pith Mumbai

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CHAPTER V
The Stories Regarding Kumarapala's Conversion
After these stories which represent Hemacandra as a saviour of the absconding prince and as the prophet of his future greatness, one would expect that soon after Kumarapala's accession to the throne, there would be a mention of a close friendship between the two. That is, however, not the case. According to both of the oldest works, the intimate intercourse of the monk with the king began much later and that, too, not on account of the earlier beneficence of the monk, but owing to entirely. different circumstances. After Kumarapala had been crowned, so it is said in the Prabhavakacaritra, he decided to suppress Arņoraja, the arrogant king of Sapadalakşa i. e. Eastern Rajputana, and accordingly prepared for the war. With all his barons and their troops he proceeded. After some days he reached the fortress Ajameru, the modern Ajmer. He besieged it but could not conquer it despite all endeavours. When the monsoons set in, he returned to Aphilväd without having carried his purpose into effect. At the beginning of the cold season he again set forth, but had, however, to return again at the end of the summer, without having achieved the fall of Ajmer. Eleven years passed in this way. Then he once asked his minister Vägbhats, the son of Udayana, whether there were no deity, Yaksa or Asura, who could help him to achieve victory. Vägbhata advised him to worship an image of Ajitasvamin which was then obtainable in Aphilväd and which had been consecrated by Hemacandra. Kumarapala consented and offered Ajitasvämin presents of very rich substances as required by the Jaina-cult. At the same time, he promised that, in case he conquered his enemy through Ajita's grace, the latter alone should be "his God, his mother, his Guru and father". Then he again proceeded towards Märväd for the twelfth time. The battle took place in the neighbourhood of the mountain Arbuda-Abu. Arņoraja was totally beaten. Kumarapala made a triumphal entry into Anhilvad. He did not forget his promise and offered his worship again in the temple of Ajitanatha. Soon afterwards, he proclaimed to his minister that he wanted to be instructed in the Jaina-tenets and asked him to secure him a teacher. Vägbhata proposed that Hemacandra be invited to fulfil the king's wish. So it came to pass that Hemacandra preached before Kumarapala with the result that the latter was moved to take the vows of laymen: to renounce eating flesh and all other forbidden foods, and to study the law of the Jainas,
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