The Paramara Emperor Bhoja the Great and Kavi Dhanapala: A Study in their Mutual Relationship

N.M. Kansara’s paper ‘The Paramāra Emperor Bhoja the Great and Kavi Dhanapāla: A Study in Their Mutual Relationship’ delves into the historical and literary ties between King Bhoja of Dhārā and the Jain poet‑scholar Dhanapāla. Jain chronicles record that Bhoja’s uncle, King Munja, awarded Dhanapāla the title ‘Sarasvatī’. Kansara analyses textual evidence from epics, inscriptions and literary works to examine whether Dhanapāla enjoyed similar favour under Bhoja. He explores possible reasons why Sindhurāja, Bhoja’s father, commissioned another poet instead of Dhanapāla for an epic, considering political dynamics and religious affiliations. The article suggests that although Dhanapāla and Bhoja shared intellectual interests in poetry, grammar and philosophy, their relationship was shaped by complex courtly politics. Kansara also highlights the broader cultural milieu of the Paramāra court, which fostered interactions between Jain and Brahmanical scholars, and suggests that Dhanapāla’s works influenced later Jain thinkers like Hemacandra.

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