Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

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

Page 89

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rate, and he tried to take the life of the noble monarch. He made one of his followers disguise himself as a Jain and present poisoned mangoes to King Bijjal, at the time when he was celebrating his victory over the Shilahara King of Kolhapur. King Bijjal ate the mangoes quite innocently, but before the poison could hurt him, his efficient physicians set to work to counteract it. He was saved and a thorough search was made for Basava, who took to his heels to save himself. But when he saw that the imperial pursuers were on him and he could not escape, he threw himself into a well. Thus ended the life of a sectarian fanatic, who was later on claimed by his supporters to be a martyr. King Bijjal ruled peacefully with glory. He built many a Jina temple. His exploits as a warrior as well as a supporter of the faith are well-narrated in a Kanareses work called "Bijjal-charite". In the Shikarpur inscription No. 236 we are told that “the Kalachuri line of Kings gave light to the world through Soma and ...through Bijjala it gained power." He died probably in 1167 A. D. when he was succeeded by his son Someshvra, who also was a supporter of Jainism and saved it from the onslaughts of the Lingayatas. 1
Such was King Bijjala the great warrior and the great supporter of the Religion of Jinas. :1. Rice, Mysore and Coorg : p. 79.