Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

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

Page 65

51
and courage. The Jain belief of Ahimsa had never been an obstruction in the way of progress of even a general or a warrior. “The Jainism of Amoghavarsha I," writes Prof. Altekat, "did not prevent him, from offering a dreadful feast to the god of death on the battlefield of Vengavalli. (IA, VII. 34) Bankeya, thd Banyasi viceroy of the same emperor, was a devout Jain and at the same time very active, successful and skilful general. (El., VI, 29). Indra IlI was at least a patron, and very probably a follower of Jainism, and so were his generals Shrivijaya and Narasimha and yet these, had fought several battles and overrun the whole of Central India and the Madhyadesa in order to accoimplish their ambitious plan of conquest. ......... In the face of the achievements of the Jain princes, and generals of this period, we can hardly subscribe.. to the theory that Jainism and Buddhism were chiefly responsible for the military emasculation of the population that led to the fall of Hindu India?." ;
.. 1. Altekar, The Rashtrakutas, p