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POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
the colophon, had become the chief minister. Sampatkara, a chief known in the prabandhas as Santū Mantri, was also a chief minister. According to the play Karnasundari-naţika, he was the patron of the poet Bilhana.2
Karna was a great builder. He got temples, tanks and cities constructed. His activities have been referred to in their due course.
The family of Kara professed Saivism, but we know from the Duyaśraya-kāvya that he died peacefully as a Brahmavadi and Harismāri. It appears, therefore, that in the later part of his reign he became a Vaisnava.
Jayasimha Siddharaja (1094–1144 A.D.)
His age at the time of his accession: The age of Jayasimha at the time of his accession is a point disputed by Jain writers. According to the Prabandha-cintamani he was three years old when he ascended the throne. The Kumarapala-prabandha of Jinamaņdanagani follows the Prabandha-cintamani,5 but the Kumārapala-carita of Caritrasundaragani states that at the time of accession Jayasimha was eight years old. The Puratana-prabandhasangraha is also of the same opinion and relates that Jayasimha was trained for rulership by the minister Säntū even when he was eight years old.? The contemporary writer Hemacandra in his Dvyáśraya-kāvya gives a different account. Referring to Jayasimha, he states :
"Jayasiinha, when he grew up, went to the banks of the Sarasvati to play and became an expert in the art of war. He also learnt how to control elephant. When he attained youth, Karņa got him crowned king. The old king also advised him to protect the four varņas; to keep the traditions of his ancestors; to behave kindly to his cousin Devaprasada. Then Karna went to heaven with his mind fixed on God Visņu.''8
From this statement it appears that Jayasimha at the time of accession must have been 16 or 18 years old.
1 SJGM., I, pp. 56-57. 2 JSI., p. 220. 3 Canto XI, V. III. · SIGM., I, p. 55: aislamisto: HTH: THIT: TATUT: FAETHAHDOLI 5 Ku. Pr., p. 5. 6 Canto I, V. 27.
SIGM., II, p. 35: fiefheasgaldt tanit F G: 1 garfoi a सान्तूमत्रिणा गुणश्रेणिं नीतः।
8. DV., Canto XI, Vs. 47-III.
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