Medieval karnataka's history cant be completed without illustration of

Western ganga kings. These western ganga emperors were also known as
gangas of Talakkad who were devout followers of Jainism .Western gangs
monarchs reigned over modern Karnataka and Andhra region during third
century to tenth century AD. Western ganga king's empire spread in between
territories of eastern chalukya, rashtrakutas and pallavs.Western gangas
were chieftains and feudatories kings of Rashtrakutas dynasty in later
centuries of existence.
Chavundraya :- Chavundraya was great chieftain general and minister of
Ganga king Rachmalla IV. He was a poet, valour warrior and devout of
Jainism.He is renowned personality with versatile talent in western ganga
history.In 982 he commissioned the Gomateshwara, a monolithic sculpture
in Shravanabelagola, an important place of pilgrimage for Jains. He was a
devotee of the Jain Acharya Nemichandra and Ajitasena Bhattaraka and was
an influential person during the reign of Kings Marasimha II, Rachamalla
IV, and Rachamalla V (Rakkasa Ganga). Chavundraya was born in 940 AD.
His father Mahabalayya and grandfather Govindamayya were trusted
servants of the royal family and had served with great distinction under
Marasimha.
after sallekhana of great rashtrakuta emperor Indra IV at Shravan belagola.
Rashtrakuta's dynasty was no longer in existence. Feudatory king's and
chieftains proclaimed themselves as paramount sovereign. After death of
Marsimha , Panchal deva mahasamnta proclaimed himself as sovereign king
of puligere region. One another chieftain named mudurachayya also rebel
against ganga monrch. In 975 AD Chavundraya suppressed rebellion of
panchaldeva mahasamanta. He was encountered by western ganga's general
Chavundraya. An another usurper named Mudurachayya was slain by
Chavundraya in the battle of Bageyur and avenged his brother Nagvarma's
death. Mudurachayya had slain chavundraya's younger brother Nagvarma
earlier and held the titles of "Chaladanka Ganga" and "gangarabanta". In this
way he earned the title of "Samara Parsurama". After a great valour and
personal gallantry in the battlefield Chavundraya made accession of
Rachamalla IV on throne.He killed Prabhuvanavira in the battle of Bayelur
and enabled Govindaraja to enter the fortress which he took after a
protracted siege. He punished Raja, Basa, Sivara, Kunanka and other chiefs
who showed signs of insubordination and attempted at alienation from
Ganga rule. For this great distinction in the field of battle and service to the
king he earned the titles of Vira Martanda, Ranarangasimha, Samara
Dhurandhara, Vairikula Kaladanda,
Bhuja Vikrama and Bhatamara.

Though a great warrior and statesman he loved scholarship and spent his
leisure in the society of learned men. He was well versed in logic, grammar,
mathematics, medicine and literature. He himself composed chavundraya
puran in kannada language. This is considered one of the earliest
masterpiece of kannada literature. He was the contemporary of Pampa the
author of Adipurana.His puranam has been considered to be a great work of
"the southern school" with a lot of admixture of Prakrit and Tamil words.
Chaundaraya was a great scholar profoundly learned in Kannada,' Sanskrit
and prakrit. He was the contemporary of Pampa the author of Adipurana.
From Chaundaraya Purana we learn that he was a devout Jain and that his
guru was Ajitasena the same great saint before whom Marasimha performed
Sallekhana at Bankapur.He earned the title of Raya from Rachamalla IV for
founding the Gomata Image in Sravanabelgola. His son Jinadeva constructed
a dravidian style Jaina temple on chandragiri hill to commemorate his father
Chavundraya. This temple is known as Chavundraya Basti .So long as
Chaundaraya was the minister, foreign aggression was successfully
prevented and the integrity of Ganga' dominion was preserved. With his
death, departed the cohesion and power of the Ganga kingdom. :- Hemant
jain
.

.
,
. .
:-

;
. 982
57
. .
,
940



.


974- 975
975
.

 " "
" " .
" "

.

, , ,

" ", "", "
" , " " ,
" " " " .


63 .
,
.
, 978
982
" "

.
.
. 989
:-