Part 2.7 - Biography of Jayasimha Siddharaja (A.D.1093-1133)

[Full title: History of Chaulukyas (7) Jayasimha Siddharaja [V.S.1150-1200] (A.D.1093-1133)]

Jayasimha, son of Karna and Mayanalladevi, who assumed Biruda of Siddhareja was the most famous king of his dynasty, and of all the Caulukyas his memory is best preserved to-day in the land of his birth. According to Hemacandra, Karna laboured under a great sorrow because he had no son, wherefore he repaired to a temple of Laksmi. There the king meditated for a long time and having successfully overcome the temptations offered by some Apsarases to distract him, he continued to repeat the mantra taught to him by his preceptor and remained unperturbed even when a demon appeared on the scene threatening to kill him. His wonderful devotion was at last rewarded when Laksmi herself appeared and bestowed on her suppliant the blessing of

49 99 a son. In due time the son was born, whom the old ladies of the palace named - more appropriately than they imagined-Jayasimha. 100 This semi-mythical account of the birth of Siddharaja did not find favour with Merutunga, who simply stated that some time after Karna was reconciled to Mayanalladevi their famous son was born. Merutunga further adds that when three years old, Jayasimha while playing with some other children, suddenly climbed on the throne and sat on it. As the astrologers predicted that, that particular movement was propitious, Karna then and there performed the coronation ceremony of his son. This coronation took place, according to Merutunga, on Saturday the third day of the dark fortnight of Pausha in V.S. 1150 in the Naksatra of Sravana in the lagna of Taurus. 101 Hence according to this account Siddharaja was born in A.D.1091. Though Karna ceased the reign from the day of his son's coronation, he must have lived some time longer as Merutunga himself says that Karna defeated Asa after Siddharaja's coronation. 102 To-day, when this large empire has passed away, this great monarch is chiefly remembered for his peaceful activities, particularly for the help he rendered to a young Jaina monk. That grateful scholar immortalised the name of his royal patron by associating their names as a title for his grammer Siddha-Hemacandra. Siddharaja gathered round him many poets and men of letters, but unquestionably Hemacandra was the towering genius, the polymath, before

1. 50 whose encyclopaedic knowledge, others paled into insignificance. The Chronicles have preserved different versions of the first meeting between the king and Hemacandra. The Prabhavakacarita relates that Siddharaja was once passing through the streets of his capital on an elephant when his eyes fell on a graceful young monk standing by a shop. The king stopped the elephant and called out to the monk to say something. Hemacandra promptly replied: "Siddha, let the stately elephant jump freely without any hesitation ! May the world protecting elephants tremble! What is the good of all of them? By thee alone is the world guarded".Siddharaja was so pleased with this verse that he invited the monk to come to the palace daily at noon to entertain him. Hemacandra gradually won the king's esteem and friendship. 103 In the Prabandhacitamani, Hemacandra is first mentioned after the return of Siddharaja to his capital after his great victory at Malava. On that occasion "representatives of all the sects were summoned on separate days to utter blessings; and so, when the time came for the Jaina teachers with Hemacandra at their head, to be invited, they presented themselves before Siddharaja, and were rewarded by the king with presents of clothes and other gifts. Though they were all charming in their incomparable readiness of intellect, they put Hemacandra in front of themselves in two senses, and he recited to the king the following blessings :

'O wishing-cow, sprinkle the earth with streams of thy products! O jewel mines Make a swastika of pearls ! O moon, become a full pitcher ! ○ clephants of the quarters, take leaves of the wishing tree, and with your erected trunks make a temporary arches of forage ! For truly Siddharaja is coming having conquered the world. 104 51 105 Like many famous Indian monarchs Siddharaja was a great builder. The most important edifice built by him was the Rudramahalaya temple at Siddhapura which is said to be one of the largest of its kind ever built in India. His governor of Saurastra, Sajjana, is said to have been guilty of appropri ating three years' state revenue without authority, which he used to build a temple of Neminatha, but the beauty of the temple so pleased the king that he pardoned the erring officer. 106 Siddharaja is chiefly remembered however, for the construction of the Sahasralinga-lake which was surrounded by 1,008 small shrines cach containing a Siva Linga; he also established several student's hostels. A pillar of victory raised its head proudly in front of this magnificent lake. On the banks of the Sarasvati he built a temple to Dasavatara Narayana. 108 107 The last days of the King were darkened by the sad thought that he would die without leaving a son and he was afraid that his subjects would be oppressed. 109 Hemacandra, who was probably a member of the royal entourage describes the peregrinations of the Emperor from one temple to

52 another - Hindu and Jaina - passionately praying to each deity for the gift of a son, while the sight of his loyal subjects, who used to come to pay their respects to their great King evoked in him an upsurge of paternal love. 110 At last, Hemacandra states, the king came to learn through divine intervention that he would not have a son but would be succeeded by his grandnephew Kumarapala. Shortly after this Siddharaja died.111