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NRTYARATNAKOSA
[ 33 giving us the geneology of the Gohils and a detailed account of the achievements of Kumbhā-political, literary and architectural.
Kumbhā was a deeply religious man and built several grand temples. In Chitor, Kumbhalgarh and Abu, in cach of these, he built a temple known
of Kumbhasvāmi. Of these the magnificent temple at Chitor was built in V S. ISOS, A.D. 1448-49.
In Kumbhalgarh he built a temple known as Māmdeva temple in A. D. 1458. It is in the gorge below the fort of the brow of the mountain overlooking the pass. It contains a pras'asti inscribed on immense slabs of black marble which together with the pras'asti on the Jaya-Stambha in Chitor gives us important material for the family of Guhil (p. 135).
Kumbha also renovated several other temples, particularly the temple of Ekalingji-his tutelary deity,
He also built several Kuņdas and stepwells more or less near the temples. Near the Mamadeva temple in Kumbhalgarh he constructed a Kunda (a reservoir) at whose edge he met his death.1
Colnel James Tod refers to the long repose and high prosperity enjoyed during the reign of Hamir, the great-great-grand father of Kumbhā, by the subjects of Mewar, judging by their magnificent public works, when a triumphal column (the Jain Kirtistambha) must have cost the income of a kingdom (p. 320 Vol. I). This remark holds equally good for the reign of Kumbhā also. Not only did he himself build magnificent structures but encouraged his subjects to do the same by giving all sorts of facilities. For example, Shah Gunaraj, a favourite of Kumbhā built temples in Ajahari (Ajari), Pindaryāțaka, and Salera. He also renovated many old temples. Vela-son of Shah Kela--built a temple dedicated to Santinätha, the sixteenth Jain Trithankara, in Chitor. He also built the graceful and richly carved Singar Chauri or Vedi near the Jaya Stambha (pp. 160-161. M. K.).
A Saiva temple on a hill near the Sema village, not far from Ekalingji, and Jain temples in Vasantpur, Bhula, and other places were built by Kumbha's subjects.?
The most magnificent of the temples built in Kumbha's reign is the Jain temple at Ranakpur. This place is about six miles to the south of Sadari. The temple is situated in a valley piercing the western flank of Aravalli. The choice of the site itself shows a fine sense of natural beauty.
1 See Oza's History of Rajputna, Vol. II pp. 620-625). 2 M K.P., 161, See also Oza's History of Rajputana, Vol. II, p. 625 f, n. 1)
