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

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