________________
316
POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
Lūnasimha, the son of Tejahpāla, was governor when Vīsala was ruling in the above capacity. The colophon of V.E. 1303 refers to Tejahpāla as the prime minister of Visaladeva. The colophon of the date V.E. 1307 relates that Dhandha was mahattama (an high officer) of Visaladeva.3 The two colophons of the dates V.E. 1310 and 1313 record Nāgada as prime minister of the state, 4 whom several Jain prabandhas also refer to. It seems that he was appointed as the chief minister after the death of Tejah päla.
The Prabandha-kośa refers to some scholars at the court of Vīsaladeva. They were Someśvara, Arisimha, Amaracandsūri, Somāditya of Vämansthalī, Kāmāditya of Krsnanagara and Nāņaka of Vīsalanagara. It is stated there that once Visaladeva called the poet Amara in the court through Thakkura Vaijala. The king honoured him. The poet recited two stanzas in praise of the king, which highly pleased him. Once his court poets presented for completion some 108 incomplete stanzas to poet Amara who easily completed them in no time and, thus, was praised by all.5 The story presents a lively picture of the court where the meeting of scholars was considered an important part of the court life.
The Purātana-prabandha-sangraha states that in V.E. 1315 there prevailed a famine in the reign of Vīsaladeva. Visaladeva called from Bhadre śvara through Nāgada a wealthy merchant by name Jagaduka to help him. It is said in the Jagadú-carita that the wealthy merchant did his best to remove the famine.? Perhaps, he had several storehouses of grain which he distributed among the famine-stricken people. 8
The Purātana-prabandha-sangraha refers to Vīsaladeva's wife by name Nāgaladevi. It is said that she was very fond of music. She knew all sorts of musical modes. She wanted that her husband should also be proficient in music and ultimately she achieved her object.'
Vīsaladeva died in V.E. 1318 and was succeeded by Arjunadeva.
1 Ibid., p. 123. 2 Ibid., p. 124. 3 Ibid., p. 124. 4 Ibid., pp. 125-126. 5 SJGM., VI, pp. 61-63: 37a(14302:1 6 Ibid., II, p. 80. praba. 187. 7 GMRI., p. 410. 8 SJGM., II, p. 80. 9 SJGM., II, p. 71.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org