1833.] 



Hin du Inscript ions. 



213 



brother-in-law. The Raja gave himself up to the charms of his beau- 

 tiful bride, and left all power in the hands of Basava, who employed 

 the opportunity thus afforded him to strengthen his own influence, 

 displacing all the old officers of state and putting in adherents of his 

 own, whilst at the same time he sedulously cultivated the favour of the 

 prince.* He likewise began to promulgate a new rule of faith, f 

 differing both from that of the Jains and Brahmans, hitherto the most 

 popular sects. He abolished the distinction of castes, all his followers 

 being enrolled by a particular ceremony into a new and equal order j 

 he himself, and the priests under him, named Jangamas, were regard^ 

 ed as incarnations of the deity. They observed the same strict abstin- 

 ence from animal food, as the rival sects, and were equally strict and 

 painute in the circumstances to be observed in cooking and eating, but 

 ^ey rejected many of the previously entertained opinions regarding 

 purity and impurity. The great object of adoration was the Lingam^ 

 and Nandi, the sacred bull that carries Siva, of which Basava proclaim-- 

 ed himself an incarnation. The effigy of their creed, a small stone 

 Jiingam in a silver box or shrine, was suspended to the neck, instead of 

 being bound round the arm, according to the practice of the Araddh- 

 yas. It is evident that their is much of the Saivak doctrines professed 

 by the Araddhya Brahmans to which Basava belonged, incorporated 

 m the new creed. 



Basava increased rapidly in power, and at length roused the fears of 

 Vijala, who endeavoured to seize his person. He made his escape, 

 however, and fled. Pursuit was ordered, but Basava collecting some 

 of his followers, attacked and dispersed the party. His adherents 

 flocked to him, and Vijala advancing in person to quell the insurrec- 

 tion, suffered a complete defeat:}:. He was compelled to submit to his 

 victorious minister, who returned with him to Kalyan, reinstated in all 

 his dignities. Basava, on his return, not only resumed all his former 

 power and authority, but even attempted the life of Vijala, probably 

 with the intention of governing unmolested, during the minority of his 

 nephew, the son of the Raja and Padraavati, who is named Alya Bijal, 

 Imadi Bijal, and Vir Vijala. In this he eventually succeeded, but 

 authorities differ as to the manner. The Jain Chronicle relates, that 

 the Raja having marched against the Silahara, a rebellious feudatory, 

 the Maha Mandaleswara of Kolapur, was returning successfully from 

 the expedition, when Basava found means to poison him on the banks 

 of the Bhima.§ The Puran relates that he was assassinated in the 



* Vijala Kavya, Book I. 

 % Ibid, Book IH. 



t Ibid. Book II. 



I Books XI. and XII, 



