Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

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

Page 91

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Poysala was only a chieftain when he approached the Jain guru Sudatta for aid. Sudatta was naturally anxious for the rebirth of the Jina Dharma in the Deccan and he set to work to devise ways and means of rejuvenating favourably political life of the country. He was successful in creating the Hoysala kingdom and once again after the Gangas, a Jain state came into existencc. The Jain muni being pleased conferred on Sala the tiger as a victorious crest and helped him to found a kingdom.'
At the beginning, the Hoysalas were feudatory to the Western Chalukyas but later on they became independent rulers. After Sala, King Vinayaditya was the first notable king among them. He
ruled from 1047 to 1100 A.D. and extended the · Hoysala kingdom by his wisdom and prowess. He
was born at Shasakapur and ruled from there." He was an ardent follower of Jainism. His religious preceptor was the Jain guru Shantisena. When his guru died, "the king and the company of the townsmen errected a monument to the departure of their guru”. It is obvious that King Vinayaditya performed many a deed of piety on the advice of his guru and
1. Saletore, loc. cit. pp. 59-70. . 2. Rice, loc. cit. p.98. 3. Ep. Car, p. 61 & 245. . .
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