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CHAPTER IX.
STATE AID TO JAINISM
Vijayanagara inonarchs Defenders of All Faiths-Their attitude towards Jainism explained-Work by Queen Bhīmā Devi-King Deva Rāya I--King Deva Rāya II-Emperor Krşņa Deva Rāya-Position of Jainism in the capital --Work of General Irugappa --Examples of nobles who helped the cause of Jainism.
THE sincerity of purpose which generally lay behind the
. actions of the Hindu monarchs of Vijayanagara is seer not only in the assurance which they publicly gave to the reli gious bodies, but also in the honest attempts which they made to promote the material interests of religions which they did not profess. These Champions of the Hindu dharma were truly Defenders of all Faiths. The fact that the kingdon of Vijayanagara had come into existence solely to save the Ilindu religion and culture from destruction,' did not prevent the monarchs of Vijayanagara from giving their whole-hearted help to non-Hindu religions. On the other hand, it was their proud boast--and we may at once observe that thi: was not unjustifiable at all that they were the Champions of the sakalavarnāśrama of the people. We have else where sufficiently shown how faithfully they carried out this promise of theirs to protect the dharma of all the sections of the people.
1. Read Saletore, S. P. Life, I. p. 13, seq ; 245. 2. Ibid., II. p. 24 seq.
