Part 3 - Vastupala—A Great Patron of Learning

Besides being a philanthropist and patron of art, Vastupala was a great patron of learning. He had established three public libraries in Anahilavad, Stambhatirtha and Bhrgukachcha by spending great sums of money for them. 52 His personal library was also very rich, and contained more than one copy of all important Sastra-works. 53 He was highly liberal towards poets and scholars, and has been noted in his case that like Bhoja and Vikramaditya, he gave thousands to poets for the composition of one verse or even for a half. Long and detailed accounts of his enjoyment and patronage of poetry have been given in the works like the Prabandhakosa, the Vastupalacarita, the Puratanaprabandhasamgraha, and the Upadesasarangini. Because of his liberality to the poets he was called Laghu Bhojaraja or Junior Bhoja. So many poets, both known and anonymous had profited by his liberality that Somesvara has expressed their gratitude in the following words. sutre vrttih krta purva durgasimhena dhimata | visutre tu krta tesam vastupalena mantrina 1154

92 "Formerly learned Durgasimha had composed the Vrtti on the Sutras, but the minister Vastupala has given Vrtti (means of maintenance) to the without any Sutra poets While giving patronage to poets and making donations in the cause of learning Vastupala made no distinction between a Jaina and non-Jaina. He donated ten thousand drammas to the Saiva Tirtha of Prabhasa, 55 and gave great wealth to the Brahmins having poetic skill. Such occasions were not rare, but on the contrary very numerous. And the Kirtikaumudi says about him nanarca bhaktimanemi nemi sankarakesavi | jaino'pi yah savedanam danambhah kurute kare | 56 His tolerance of other faiths had become so proverbial that the Puratanaprabandhasamgraha has the following verse about him : mokho vaisnavairvisnubhaktah saivaih saivo yogibhiryo garangah | jainaistavajjaina eveti krtva sattvadharah stuyate vastupalah | | 57 Moreover, Vastupala was credited with a critical faculty which enabled him to detect defects in poetic compositions by others, and to make improvements in them. He has been referred to as "the best among the appreciators of poetry and art" (Sahrdayacudamani) 58 Not only did he appreciate poetry and art, but also requested others to write religious and

93 1 literary works for his instruction and delectation. The Katharatnakara of Naracandra Suri and the Alaskaramahodadki of Narendraprabha Suri were composed at his request. 59 Greater part of his leisure hours was spent in the company of literary men. 60 He himself has said in the Naranarayanananda Mahakavya that he could devote his time in the company of poets and scholars, because his younger brother Tejapala looked properly after the state-affairs.61 Inspite of high position which he enjoyed his modesty_was proverbial, and amidst the manifold engagements of state-affairs he found time to make a copy in his own hand of the Dharmabhyudaya Mahakavya of Udayaprabha Suri, a pupil of his preceptor Vijayasena Suri. This manuscript, dated 1290 V.S., has been preserved in the Jaina Bhandara at Cambay and has been printed one palm-leaf manuscripts photograph by B.J.Sandesara, 62 and we are fortunate in having the handwriting of such a great personality even after the lapse of more than seven centuries. There was hardly a notable scholar, Jaina or non-Jaina, in Gujarat of those days who had not come in contact with Vastupala in one way or the other. And there is no wonder that we find a large number of works written directly under his patronage or indirectly under the stimulus of his magnetic personality.