Chamundaraya

 

According to Chamundarayapuran (978 AD) he was born in Brahmakshatra caste. He was the able and brave minister and commander of Marsing II and his successor Rachmall IV. He defeated western Chalukya, Nolambas and Bajjals and saved the Ganga territory. He was decorated with several titles of valour for his various victories.

Chamundaraya was very generous and munificent. The works done by him for Jainism gave him immortality. He wrote Charitrasara, Trishashti-Laksan Puran and other books. He honoured the scholars. He had high regard for his Guru Nemichandra Siddhanta-Chakravarti, The famous 57 feet high image of Gommateshwara (Bahubali) a Shravanbelgola was constructed by him in the 981 AD He also built the Chamundaraya Basadi (Jain Temple) on Chandragiri Hill of Shravabelgola. His son Jinadevan also built a Jain temple. Chamundaraya supported the famous Kannad Poet Rann.