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THE DYNASTIES OF SAURASTRA
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Arjunadeva (c. 1264-1274 A.D.): The Vicaraśreni states that Vīsala deva was followed by Arjunadeva in the year V.E. 1318 (1261 A.D.) and ruled till V.E. 1331 (1274 A.D.)? But their relationship is not mentioned there. The Cintrā prasasti of Sārangadeva dated V.E. 1343, reveals the fact that Arjunadeva was nephew of Vīsaladeva. The Jain work Pravacana-parikşā gives him the date from V.E. 1320 to 1333.3 His inscriptions range from 1320 to 1330 V.E. (1264-1273 A.D.) The Muslim historians attribute only 10 years for his reign.5 As the earliest known inscription of his successor is dated V.E. 1332,6 we assume that the date ascribed by the Vicāra śreni is almost correct.
The Jain prabandhas do not throw any light on his reign. We, however, have more than half a dozen colophons of Jain MSS ranging from V.E. 1318 to 1327,? which help us to fix his chronology correctly.
These colophons refer to his titles as Maharājādhiraja Mahārājaśri and Samastarājávali-samalaikyta Mahārājādhiraja and mention Śrīsoma as Máladeva as mahāmālya (prime minister).
We have also one Jain inscription of his reign known as the Girnar stone inscription, dated V.E. 1330. This inscription is found at the entrance of the Mandapa of Ganadhara situated in the west of the main temple of Neminātha. It records the grant of right of engraving (sūtradhāratvam ) in the temple of Neminātha and get other sacred places on the hill of Girnar to Sutradhāra Haripāla. It was engraved in the reign of Arjunadeva when Pālhā was transacting the business of the seal in Saurāşțra.8
Sarangadeva (1274-1296 A.D.): The Vicāraśreni states that Arjunadeva was succeeded by Sārangadeva in V.E. 13319 who according to the Cintraprasasti was the son of Arjunadeva.10 His inscription shows that he ruled from V.E. 1332 to 1352 (1295-1296 A.D.). This roughly corroborates the statement of the Vicaraśreni. The Muslim historians, however, assigned him a reign of 21 years.11
1 JSS., II, Pt. IV, p. 9; aa: 338C ftaticaa: 1 8338 artida: 2 EI., I, p. 272, V. 9. 3 P. 272. 4 HIG., III, Nos. 217–219 A. 5 AAK., II, p. 260; MK, Trans. 159. 6 HIG, III, No. 220. 7 SJGM., XVIII, pp. 127-129. 8 Poona Orientalist, III, No. 1, P. 21; see also HIG., III, No. 219 A. 9 JSS., II, No. 4, p. 9. 10 EI., I, pp. 271-87. 11 AAK., II, p. 260; MA. Trans., p. 159.
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