________________
244
POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
Dvyaśraya-kävya and the Prabandha-cintamani describe at length the marriage of Mayanallä with Karna. The Duyaśraya-kavya refers to Mayanallā as the daughter of the king Jayakesi of Candrapur, born in Kadamba family. According to the Prabandha-cintämani Jayakesi was the son of Subhakesi, the king of Karnāta. This Subhakesi has been identified with Sasthadeva, the third king of the Kadamba dynasty of Goa. But Jayakesi was not the king of Karnataka. He was most probably a friend of Tribhuvanamalla Vikramāditya, the ruler of Karnataka, Jayakesi, on the other hand, is regarded the king of Koukana, the capital of which was modern Goa. An inscription of his reign dated 1051 A.D. was discovered in Goa. He died in 1075 A.D. Thus, he was a contemporary of the Caulukya Karma.3
As to how they were married, there is an interesting story in the Prabandha-cintamani. It states :
"Once she merely on hearing the name of Someśvara mentioned by some votaries of Siva remembered her former birth. She said to herself: 'In a former life I was a Brāhmaṇi, I set out to worship Someśvara and reached the town of Bahuloda but being unable to pay the duty levied there, I was not allowed to proceed further and in despair I expressed the earnest desire that in my next birth I might bring about the remission of that duty. I died and was born in this family.' This was her recollection with regard to her former birth. In order to fulfil her desire she determined to marry the king of Gujaräta. Her father accordingly asked Karņa through his ministers to accept the gift of his daughter Mayaņallādevī's hand. But Karna, having heard of her ugliness, was indifferent to her. But her father, on account of her obstinate determination sent her to Karna, as a maiden choosing her own husband. Then Karņa having himself secretly observed the fact of her ugliness, became altogether neglectful of her. Accordingly Mayanalladevī and her eight companions made up their minds to sacrifice their 1 DV., Canto IX, V. 89-170 and SJGM., I, p. 54. · DV., Canto IX, V. 99-100 and 153. 3 Kadambakula, p. 166.
* SIGM., I, p. 54: 1 FTTH ATTAA Tahit garage The CE प्राग्भावे ब्राह्मणी द्वादशमासोपवासान् कृत्वा प्रत्येकं द्वादशवस्तूनि तदुद्यापने दत्त्वा श्रीसेमेश्वरनमस्याकृते प्रस्थिता बहलोडनगरमागता तत्वरं दातुमक्षमयाऽग्रतो गन्तुमलभमाना तन्निर्वेदादह--आगामिनि जन्मनि अस्य करस्य मोचयित्री भूयासमिति कृतनिदाना विपद्यात्रकुलेजातेति पूर्वभवस्मृतिः। अथ बहुलोडमोचनाय स गुर्जरेश्वरं प्रवरं वरं कामयमाना तं वृत्तान्तं पित्रे निवेदयामास। अथ जयकेशिराजानं व्यतिकरं ज्ञात्वा aa EU: .. .. 9 # 3727 sito .... cita à .... AT .... पिता स्वयम्वर प्राहिणोत् । .... मातृभक्त्या तां परिगीय श्रीकर्णः पश्चाद्दष्टिमात्रेणापि न संभवयामास ।
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
