Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

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

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must have moved with Napoleonic rapidity. No doubt he had the benefit of the Mauryan roads, yet he had to cover thousands of miles and maintain his huge army thousands of miles away from his Kingdom."
He was now paramount monarch in the world. At last satisfied with the extension of his empire, he devoted his energies to the welfare of his soul. He had became an accomplished hero in works, (Kammasura); he was now anxious to be a hero in Religion also. He was a true u pasaka of Mahavira. On the Kumari Parvata he raised some works in connection with the temple of Arhat, and built various pillars and caves for the Jaina ascetics in its vicinity. He had been devoting his life to seeing, hcaring and celebrating thc Five Great Kalyanakas of the Jinendra, which constitute the greatest feature of picty for a Jaina layman. His meritorious dccds werc so innumerable and unsurpassed that hc came to be known as the king of Peace, Prosperity and Dharma. It seems most probable that feeling the approach of old age, Kharavcla in his afterlife dedicated himself to the hard liíc of a Jaina monk and practised austerities and penances on the Kumari Parvata. Thereby he became very thoroughly reduced and amaciated and came to understand the finc distinction between soul and matter. This scems to be ther cason why he is styled iking of saints) Bhiksuraj in the inscription.