Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

Author(s): Kamtaprasad Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

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To complete his compaign of conquest, Kharavela thereafter took an army to northern India and realized his object. Pushymitra who was a powerful orthodox monarch was on the Imperial throne of Magadha at the time. He had even assumed the imperial diginity by celebrating an "Ashvamedha" sacrifice. Kharavela was anxious to cross swords with him. He ched Magadha along the western route and caused consternation amongst its people. Pushyamitra was so much taken with surprise by this manouvre that he did homage instantly at the feet of Kharavela. Kharavela returned after taking the dignity of emperor from Pushyamitra and laden with rich trophis from Anga and Magadha together with certain Kalinga heirlooms and the statue of the first Jina, which had been carried away by King Nanda. At home Kharavela built towers of victory, the interior of which was adorned with war trophies. In the same year Kharavela received extraordinary presents of ephant-ships, horses, precious stones and other rich articles from the King of the Pandyas, who seems also to have been a Jain by belief.
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The last invasion of Magadha undertaken by Kharavela illustrates the skilfulness and rapidity of Kharavela's military movements. "From Orissa to the Uttrapatha (N. W. India) and to Magadha and again back to Orissa in the same year, Kharavela