Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)

Kumarapala
King of Gurjara
Reign	1143-1172 (29 years)
Predecessor	Jayasimha Siddharaja
Successor	Ajayapala
Born	Dadhisthali (now Dethali near Sidhpur)
Dynasty	Chaulukya
Father	Tribhuvanpala
Religion	Jainism

Kumarapala (r. 1143 – 1172 CE) was an Indian king from the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty of Gujarat. He ruled the present-day Gujarat and surrounding areas, from his capital Anahilapataka (modern Patan).

A descendant of the Chaulukya ruler Bhima I, Kumarapala appears to have spent his early life in exile to avoid persecution by his relative and predecessor Jayasimha Siddharaja. He ascended the throne after Jayasimha's death, with help of his brother-in-law. He ruled for nearly three decades, during which he subdued a number of neigubouring kings, including the Chahamana king Arnoraja and the Shilahara king Mallikarjuna. He also annexed the Paramara territory of Malwa to his kingdom by defeating an usurper named Ballala.

Kumarapala was a disciple of the Jain scholar Hemachandra, and adopted Jainism towards the end of his reign. Multiple legendary biographies by medieval Jain chroniclers present him as the last great royal patron of Jainism.

Kumarapala was well known for his patronage of Jainism, and several medieval Jain scholars wrote chronicles about him. These scolars include Hemachandra (Dvyashraya and Mahaviracharita), Prabhachandra, Somaprabha (Kumarapala-Pratibodha), Merutunga (Prabandha Chintamani), Jayasimha Suri, Rajashekhara and Jina-Mandana Suri, among others. Of all the Indian kings, the largest number of chronicles have been written about Kumarapala. However, these chronicles differ substantially in important details about his life.

All sources state that Kumarapala was the successor of Jayasimha Siddharaja, who was his relative and hated him.

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