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THE DYNASTIES OF SAURASTRA
Vanaraja: The Prabandha-cintamani records the tradition that Vanaraja founded the city by building a Dhavalagṛha (white house, i.e. a royal court or palace) under a Jäli tree. The Tilaka ceremony was performed by his adopted sister Sridevi. He made Jamba, a merchant, his Mahamatya (the chief-minister). It has been already mentioned above that according to Neminaha-cariu, Lahara, son of Ninnaya, was the general of the armies of Vanarāja. We learn from the Prabandha-cintamani that Vanaraja invited Silagunasuri from Pañcasara and showed his gratitude by requesting him to occupy his throne and accept his whole kingdom, which naturally the sage refused. At his suggestion, however, he built a Caitya-a temple-which was known as the Pañcasara caitya in which the idol of Parśwanatha brought from Pañcasara was installed. He also built another temple in honour of the goddess Kanţeswari or Kantheśvari known as Kantelvari-prasada.• Arisimha also refers to the former temple as if it were a mountain.
The Prabandha-cintamani states that Vanaraja ruled for 59 years and some months. The Vicarasreni assigns him 60 years."
We have no information as to the extent of his dominions.
From the above narratives, Vanarāja appears in his early life as a cruel man killing and plundering here and there and behaving like a rebel. In spite of this he was possessed of certain good qualities which enabled him to win the support of powerful and rich persons in strengthening his army and treasury. He was a promising man and he fulfilled the promises he made to others in his early life of a vagabond. He seems also to have been a man with a sense of gratitude. He gave the name of his capital after the name of a person who showed him a piece of land which he was searching for. His ministers were those persons who helped him in his early life. Even his Tilaka ceremony was performed by that lady who gave him food and dress. His leaning towards the Jain monks was natural because he and his mother. were blessed by them. It is said in the Prabhavaka-carita that he gave certain rights to Caityavasi monks (by whom he was benefited) as against
1
SJGM, I, 13: प्रतिपन्नभगिनीं श्रियादेवीमाहूय तथा कृततिलकः । 2 Ibid: सजाम्बाभिधानो वणिग्महामात्यश्चक्रे ।
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● Tbid.: पञ्चासरग्रामतः श्रीशीलगुणसूरीन् सभक्तिमानीय।
A Ibid. श्रीपार्श्वनाथप्रतिमालंकृतं पञ्चाखरा मिधानं चैत्यं निजाराधकं मूर्तिसमेतं च कारयामास । धवलगृहे कण्टेश्वरीप्रासादश्च कारितः ।
P. 13 : सं. ८०३ पूर्व निरुद्धं वर्ष ६९ मास, दिन २१ श्रीमनराजेन राज्यं कृतम् ।
JSS., II, No. 3-4, p. 9.
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