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POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
larger of the two temples called Sāsabahū kā Dehrā in the fortress of Gwalior. It is a large inscription containing 42 lines consisting of 112 Samskst verses and is dated V.E. 1150, in the reign of the eighth member of this branch by names Mahipāla. It belongs to a temple of Vişnu and has nothing to do with the Jains except that its author is a Jain. It, however, opens with the salutation of Padmanātha," a word which according to scholars, is the local name of Vişnu. But in my opinion, in spite of its being the local name of Vişnu, its use here by a Jain author may be interpreted as a pun which has double meaning: the one may be Vişnu as assumed by the scholars, and the other may be the sixth Tīrthankara of the Jains called by that name, whom the author invokes. The inscription devotes 4 verses invoking Aniruddha, the Lord of Uşā, perhaps the family deity of Mahipāla. Though the inscription is a large one, it, however, gives very little information of historical importance. It gives the following account of the seven predecessors of Mahīpāla.
Lakşmana: It states that the first prince of the line was Lakşmana who is described as 'Kacchapaghāța vamśa tilaka' and 'Kșaunīpati' and an object of reverence for all princes. He is also said to have wielded his bow, promoted the welfare of his subjects and unaided like Prțhu made the earth obedient to his will, and by his force extirpated even mighty princes." Nothing definite of his political achievements is mentioned in this inscription.
Vajradāman: Vajradāman was the son of Laksmana who is said to have defeated the then ruler of Gādhinagara and conquered the fort of Gopādri.* This prince seems to be of some importance. We have a small inscription incisd on the pedestal of the Jain image dated V.E. 1034, from Suhāniya near Gwalior, which gives the name Sri Vajradāma Mahārājādhirāja." If this Vajradāman is identified with Vajradāman, the son of Lakşmana, as generally held by scholars we get fortunately the date of his reign as V.E. 1034.6 The Gādhinagara of the inscription should be identified on the evidence of mythology with Kānyakubja (Kanauj). The ruler
1 sikatsíu. 9940 2 319 FTA: 4CH7171 : V. 5. frateEHFTTT.......725414F : airciaga : etc.
4 TEEMUTTA:...... TAHIT...... ...... Frauf ETT Tatatatata......
5 P. C. Nāhar, Jain Lekha-sangraha II, p. 94. N. 1431. 6 DHNI., II, p. 823. ? Tripathi, Dr. R. S. History of Kanauj, p. 12.
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