Life of Hemchandracharya

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

Page 48

CHAPTER V.-THE STORIES REGARDING KUMĀRAPALA'S CONVERSION 29
Merutunga's narrative differs very much from the above one and is indeed full of romance. According to his account, Kumārapāla had to combat internal enemies immediately after his winning the crown. Then followed the campaign against Arņorāja or Anāka of Sapādalaksa and later a war against Mallikarjuna, the king of Konkan, who was beaten by Amrabhata or Ambada, the second son of U dayana. Between these two stories, an anecdote is interwoven about the singer, Sollāka, in which Hemacandra also is mentioned. Contradicting this there is also the account of the way and manner in which Hemacandra became the friend and teacher of Kumārapāla. An insult which Hemacandra received at the funeral of his mother Pahini from the ascetics of Tripurusaprāsāda in Aşhilvād, drove him-according to Merutuiga's report-into such anger that he decided to gain influence at the court so that he could take revenge for the insult. He betook himself to the royal camp which happened to be then at Mālvā. His old patron, the councillor Udayana, introduced him to the king. The king remembered his prophecy which Hemacandra had made during his flight. The king offered him his friendship and granted him the honour of access to his person at all times. This intercourse which developed so quickly had, however, no immediate results for the religious conviction of the king. Only a few anecdotes are given, e. g., the one about the quarrel with the Purohita Amiga (see above p. 20 ), which prove Hemacandra's dexterity in self-defence against attacks. It was only when Kumārapāla returned sometime afterwards to Aṇhilvād that Hemacandra found an opportunity of beginning his work of conversion. Once Kumarapāla asked his friend, so it is said, how he could immortalize for all time the memory of his rule. Thereupon Hemacandra advised the king either to pay off every one's debts, as Vikramaditya had done, or to have a new stone-temple built in the place of the dilapidated wood-temple of Siva-Somanātha in Devapattana. Kumārapāla preferred the latter and deputed at once an official to begin the erection. When it was reported that the foundation-stone had been laid, Hemacandra proposed to the king that he should take a vow for securing the happy conclusion of the project, and to that end either to observe complete chastity or to renounce indulgence in spirituous drinks and flesh-eating until the flag was unfurled on the pinnacle of the temple. Kumāra pala swore before a Siva-linga to abstain from the prohibited drinks and dishes for the required length of time. After two years, the temple was completed and Kumārapāla wanted now to be freed from his voir. Hemacandra, however, prevailed upon him to hold the vow still longer, until he had worshipped the god in the new temple. Immediately, therefore, a pilgrimage towards Somanātha-or Devapattana-was undertaken and, on the advice of the envious Brahuins, Hemacandra also was invited thereto. The latter declared himself to be quite willing to visit the temple of Siva. He however took first a roundabout route so as to visit the shrines of Satruñjaya and Girnār. At the gate of Devapattana he met the king and took part in the ceremonious entry-procession together with the king and with Ganda Bțbaspati, the temple-priest of Somanatha. He was also moved by the request of his lord to worship even Siva. Dressed in a costly costume, he entered the temple led by Brhaspati, praised its brilliance, made the usual sacrificial offerings according to the instructions of the Sivapurana and threw himself prostrate before the Linga, dedicating the following verses to the God: