Acharya Hasti Mala
After accepting self-restraint, Rāvakṛṣṇa became popular as Kṛṣṇarṣi and following the footsteps of his guru, started practicing deep meditation on his self and performing severe penance.
In this way practicing severe penance for six months Kṛṣṇarṣi died after fulfilling the objective of his human life.
Later on Khimaṛṣi also after 60 years of practicing severe penance died at the age of 90 years.
Studying the life sketches of such great ṛṣis we find that great saints and benefactors of self and others exist even in other Śramaṇa traditions like temple dwellers congregation etc.
Kavi Mahāsena (author of Sulocanā kathā)
Around V.N.12th century, a great poet by the name Mahāsena existed. We do not find any information in Jain literature about his lineage, guru or congregation. We only find mention of his compositions Sulocanā kathā which also is not available today.
Ācārya Udyotana, an able scholar in his popular composition Kuvalayamālā completed in the last part of his life in Śaka 699 had showered great praise on Mahāsena's composition Sulocanā kathā.
Ācārya Amitasena of Punnāṭa congregation's disciple Jina Sena in his great composition Harivaṃśapurāṇa in V.N. 1310 had endowed the title 'Śīlālaṃkāra Dhāriṇī Sunayanī Sūndarī' to this great composition of Mahāsena.
Prior to these two authors, we do not find mention of 'Sulochana Katha' in any other text. This leads us to infer that scholar poet Mahāsena of Sulochana Katha existed sometime in V.N. 12th century.
Kavi Parameṣṭhī(Composer of Vāgartha saṃgraha)
At the end of V.N.12th century, a great scholar cum author of texts, Parameṣṭhī by name existed. No information is available about his place and birth etc. Poet Parameṣṭhī had composed a jewel like supreme text by the name Vāgartha saṃgraha. Many scholars considered this text as an ideal composition and used its language, contents and style while composing their own texts. Today this composition of poet Parameṣṭhī is not available. However respectful and honoured mention of this great text by poet Parameṣṭhī are still available in the compositions of great scholar monks of Vikram 9th century like Ādipurāṇa by Paṃcastūpānvayī Bhaṭṭāraka Jina Sena, his disciple Guṇa Bhadra in Uttarapurāṇa and by the builder of monolithic great idol of Gommaṭeśwara (Bāhubalī) in Śravaṇabelagolā Cāmuṃḍa Rāya in his text Cāmuṃḍa purāṇa in 1030 A.D. approximately are available even today.
Since we do not find any mention of poet Parameṣṭhī before Bhaṭṭāraka Jinasena's composition, we can infer that that poet Parameṣṭhī was perhaps a contemporary of poet Mahāsena, author of Sulocanā kathā in and around V.N. 12th century.
Prevailing political conditions during the time
of 43rd and 44th successor's pontiff of Lord Mahāvīra's tradition
Rāṣṭrakūṭa dynasty king Amoghavarṣa ruled during the time of 43rd pontiff Ācārya Lakṣmīvallabha and 44th pontiff Ācārya Rāmaṛṣī Swāmī. King Amoghavarṣa was considered as the one of the most powerful kings of his time i.e. V.N. 14th century. He had unquestionable faith in and practice of Jainism. Even after being the most powerful king, he had greater inclination towards religious and literary activities.
King Govinda-III, father of king Amoghavarṣa was the most powerful king of Rāṣṭrakūṭa dynasty. Amoghavarṣa was born in a place called Śrībhavana of his cantonment located on the banks of river Narmadā in V.N. 1329 (802AD). After the birth of Amoghavarṣa, his father achieved many spectacular feats.
King Govinda-III during his rule (V.N. 1321-1341) of twenty years made Rāṣṭrakūṭa dynasty of Malakheḍa into a very powerful empire. After his death, his son Amoghavarṣa ascended to the throne of grand Rāṣṭrakūṭa Empire.
Amoghavarṣa was only twelve years of age when he ascended to the throne of grand Rāṣṭrakūṭa Empire. Seeing his very young age, it was natural that his own greedy and unfaithful ministers, enemy kings and neighbour Kings were thirsty for the empire would raise their heads in revolt against him. Even though he was very young, still Amoghavarṣa acted with extreme courage and intelligence. With the help of his cousin brother, Karka ruler of Lāṭapradeśa and his defence forces chief Baṃkaiya, he crushed all revolt one after the other. In this way he had to struggle for 46 years. The last eighteen years of his life were very peaceful.
Mahārājā Allaṭa, king of Cittaura of Śiśodiyā lineage
Mahārājā Allaṭa of Cittauḍa was the ruler of Mewāḍa. He had deep faith in Jainism and Jain Acharyas. He was born to Mewāḍa king Bhartṛbhaṭṭa-II and his queen Mahālakṣmī of Rāṭhauḍa lineage. After king Bhartṛbhaṭṭa-II's death, Allaṭa ascended to the throne of Cittauḍa in Vikram 922 approximately. He continued to rule Mewāḍa from Vikram 922 to 1010. This is inferred from the rock inscriptions of his time.
At one time, Jainācārya Balibhadra, on his routine wandering tour, came to Hathūṃḍ ī. At that time the queen of king Allaṭa was in Hathūṃḍ īand she was suffering from an incurable disease. She became all right after paying obeisance to Ācārya Balibhadra and practicing the vows, rules, confessions and following the path proposed by the ācārya. On hearing of the news of his queen being cured, he came to pay obeisance to Ācārya Balibhadra. Ācārya Balibhadra gave sermons of Jain doctrine to Allaṭa and made him realize the importance of right belief. These sermons of Ācārya Balibhadra had such a deep impact on Allata that he continued to take benefit of sermons of Jain monks for his entire life and offered services for its cause as per his powers. To express his gratitude towards Ācārya Balibhadra, Allaṭa had several reputed citizens become faithful laymen and devotees of Balibhadra. He also advised the ruler of Hathūṃḍ ī(King Vidagath Raj) to be also in service of Ācārya Balibhadra always.
We find many rock inscriptions of the time of Allaṭa which establish his exemplary services to Jainism in his long rule.
Ruling Rāṭhauḍa lineage of Hathūṃḍ ī; Jainism
Queen Mahālakṣmī of Mahārājā Allaṭa of Mewāḍa Cittauḍa was a princess of Hathūṃḍ ī's ruling family. From the rock inscriptions of Vikram 10th century we infer that Rāṭhauḍa lineage rulers of Hathūṃḍ ī were firm believers and respecters of Jainism and some of them were even followers of Jainism.
Rāṭhauḍa lineage ruler of Hathūṃḍ ī, Vidagdharāja was highly influenced by the sermons of Ācārya Balibhadra and he became a follower of Jainism.
From his charity oriented proclamation in Vikram 973, it is learnt that Vidagdharāja, ruler of Hathūṃḍ ībuilt a grand temple of Lord Ādinātha there and imposed a religion tax on all trade transactions and agriculture produce for the daily needs & permanent maintenance of this temple. There is also a mention of Vidagdharāja donating gold equal to his own weight. Rule of Vidagdharāja is estimated to be the first half of Vikram 10th century.
After Vidagdharāja, his son Mambhaṭarāja ascended to the throne of Hathūṃḍ ī. Like his father, he also issued a charity proclamation affirming the proclamation made by his father and extended the religion tax on trade transactions in agricultural produce, ensuring that all religious activities of that temple went on properly.
From a social perspective, Hathūṃḍ īhas deep impact as the Jhāmaḍa gotra of Oswāls originated from here only. Influenced by the preachings of Acharya Sarvadeva Suri, in Vikram 988, Rav Jagamal along with his entire family and relatives accepted the Ahimsa based Jainism. They were all included in the Oswal clan and were sub-titled as Jhamads.
After Mambhaṭa, his son Dhavalarāja ascended to the rule of Hathūṃḍ ī. Actually Dhavalarāja was a very powerful and shelter provider of rulers coming to him for support. During his rule, Mālawārāja attacked Āhaḍa and destroyed it. At that time Dhavalarāja gave shelter to King Śālivāhana of Mewāḍa, probably Khumāṇa- IV. He also helped tremendously Cauhāna Mahendra and also provided shelter to the King Dharaṇīvarāha who was suffering from the insurgency of powerful king of Gujarat Mūlarāja. Dhavalarāja also renovated the grand temple of Lord Ādinātha built by his grandfather Vidagdharāja and in Vikram 1053 got a new idol consecrated by ācārya Śānti.
