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THE DYNASTIES OF SAURASTRA
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Dispute over succession: The succession seems to have been disputed between his son Vīsala and brother Vīrama. His son Visaladeva, known from the Jain prabandhas, has also been testified by the Cintrā stone inscription of V.E. 1343 which states that Vīradhavala had two sons Pratāpamalla and Visaladeva. Pratāpamalla predeceased his father while Visala succeeded him.1
Vīramadeva is also known from Purātana-prabandha-sangraha as the son of Lavanaprasada from his second wife.2 We do not know his early activities from any other sources. He, however, appears in the two inscriptions of Bhīma II, dated V.E. 1295 and 1296, as the son of Lūņapasā (Lavanaprasāda), and as one who got constructed the temple of Vīrameśvara.3 A colophon of the Jain MS. Sangrahani-tika, of the date V.E. 1296, mentions him as Mahamandalesvara ranaka.
We have already seen that in the colophons of V.E. 1295 and 1298 Vīsala is also mentioned as mahāmandalesvara, ränaka. These colophons seem to indicate that the kingdom for a time was divided between the nephew and uncle.
It is stated in the Puratana-prabandha-sangraha that when Viradhavala was dying a religious death he was filled with an anxiety about his son Vīsala. He revealed it to his minister Tejahpāla : "After me the kingdom would go to Vīrama and Vīsala would be troubled. Put the water in my hand, I shall offer my kingdom to Vīsala." The minister accordingly did and Vīradhavala died peacefuly.5
Accordingly to the Prabandha-kośa, Vīrama was the son of Vīradhavala. He is depicted there as a man of loose temper, whom Vīradhavala established in the village Vīrama. He, therefore, became hostile to his father. Vīsala, the other son, was very affectionate to Vīradhavala. Vīrama attempted to capture the throne but before his attempt Vastupala established Vīsala on the throne. Then Vastupāla with Visala attacked Vīrama. A fierce battle was fought. Vīrama fled away to Jávālipur in the hope of help from his father-in-law, Udayasimha, but Vastupāla warned the latter not to give him shelter, otherwise his life and kingdom would be endangered. He asked him to kill Vīrama. The bowmen of Udayasimha pierced him with arrows and sent his head to Visala.
1 HIG., III, No. 222, p. 79 ff. V.8. 2 SJGM., II, p. 54. 3 HIG., II, Nos. 201 and 202, pp. 159 and 162. 4 SJGM., XVIII, p. 122. 5 SJGM., II, p. 66. 6 SJGM., VI, p. 125.
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