Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

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

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With the Rashtrakuta monarch Dantidurga Sahastunga Khadagavaloka Vairamegha we see the ascendency of Jainism in the Rashtrakuta territories. He honoured one of the greatest figures in all Jain history-Akalankadeva. An inscription dated A. D. 1129 gives interesting details in regard to king Dantidurga and Acharya Akalanka Deva. It is evident from it that Akalanka once preached in his court and addressed him thus: "O King Sahastunga: there are many kings with white parasols, but kings who are victorious in war and distinguished by liberality, like you, are hard to find. Likewise there are many scholars in the Kali age, but no poets, preeminent debaters, orators and experts in research in various sciences, like me. As you, O King, are wellknown in crushing the arrogance of all enemies, so am i famed on this carth as destroyer of the pride of scholars. If you believe me not, here I am, and here in your court good and great men are always present. Lct him who has ability to speak, if versed in all the sciences, debate with me. It was not with a mind influenced with selfconceit or filled with hatred, but through more compassion for those people who, having embraced atheism, were perishing that, in tho court of the shrewd king Himasitala, I overcame all the crowds of Bauddhas and broke