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INTRODUCTION
From the inscription on a stone-slab built up in a pillar to the left of the entrance into the temple, dated V. S. 1496 A D. 1439-40, we learn that it was built by Kumbha's favourite Sanghapati Dharanaka. It was dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar Adinatha. To quote"...by his (Kumbhakarna's) favourite Sanghapati Dharanaka... [by] "Ratna his (Dharanakas) elder brother, being directed by the king Rāņā Shri Kumbhakarna, the temple, founded in his (Kumbhakarna's) own name, of the first lord of the Yuga-Sri Chaturmukha-called Trailokyadipaka, was by his order and favour, bulit in the city of Ranapura and was consecreated by Sri Somasundara Sūri.........This is made by the architect Depäka" (p. 117-Bhavanagar Inscription.)1
This Trailokya-Dipaka built by the architect Depaka for Dharanaka and Ratna is one of the most outstanding pieces of Hinduarchitecture.2
James Fergusson says "Indeed, I know of no other building in India, of the same class, that leaves so pleasing an impression or affords so many hints for the graceful arrangement of columns in an
interior.3
Now we come to the literary works attributed to Kumbha."
The very first epithet of Kumbha in the Pragastis of N. R. K as well as Rasika Priya (p 174 ) is - - श्री सरस्वती रससमुद्रसमुद्भूतकै रवोद्यान नायक०' 'leader in the garden of lotuses growing out of the water of Sarasvati.' So he liked to be known first and foremost as a leader amongst men of learning. The Ekalingamāhātmya would credit him with the knowledge of the Vedas, Smrtis, two Mimamāmsās, Nāṭyas'astra of Bharata with its four Bhasyas Ratanakara, other works on music and dancing, Arthas'astra, the eight grammars, Upanisads, the Darsanas, and Literature in general. It calls him Sarvajna omniscient, but more appropriately Prajna-sphurat-Kesari-a lion throbbing with intellect' (M. K. p. 223, vs. 172, 173, 202).
This same work attributes to him the authorship of a commentary on Gitagovinda, four dramas in the languages of Karnataka, Medapata and Mahārāṣṭra.
The Prasasti on the Jayastambha of Chitod confirms all this and mentions as his works Sangita-raja, Suda-prabandha, and a comme
. राणा श्री कुंभकरणं सर्वोर्वीपतिसार्वभौमस्य विजयमानराज्ये तस्य प्रसादपात्रेण... प्राग्वाटवंशावतंससं० सागरसुत सं० कुरपाल भा० कामलदे पुत्र परमाहंत्त सं० धरणाकेन ज्येष्ठभ्रातृसं० रत्ना भा० रत्नादे पुत्र सं० लाषा. जावड़ा दिप्रवर्द्धमानसंतानयुतेन राणपुरनगरे राणा श्रीकुंभकर्णनरेन्द्रण स्वनाम्ना निवेशिततदीयसुप्रसादादेशतस्त्र लोक्यahaniभिधानः श्रीचतुर्मुखयुगादीश्वरविहारः कारितः प्रतिष्ठितः श्री सोमसुन्दरसूरिभिः gafa¿ a ga¶à¶ etc. pp. 114-115 Bhavanagar Inscriptions.
2 It is a pleasure to note that the temple has been appropriately and carefully reno vated so as to maintain its original beauty by the Jain Community under the able leadership of Seth Kasturbhai Lalbhai of Ahmedabad.
3 For the description of the temple, its plan and views, see Fergussons's History of Indian and Eastern Architecture, Vol. II, pp. 45-48.
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