The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s15.104

c8.s15.104

The Jain account, as given in the *Bijjalaryacharitra*,¹ puts things very differently. Basava's influence with the king is attributed to the fact that he had a very beautiful sister, whom the king took as a concubine. And the end of Bijjala and Basava is related thus:— Bijjala had marched against and subdued the Kôlhâpur chief, *i.e.* the Silâhâra *Mahâmandaleśvara*, who must have committed some act of rebellion. During a halt on the way back to Kalyâna, a Jangam arrived, sent by Basava, and disguised as a Jain; and presented the king with a poisoned fruit, the mere smell of which caused his death. He had time, however, before dying, to tell his son Immadi-Bijjala, *i.e.* "the second Bijjala,"² that it was Basava who had sent the fruit, and to enjoin him to put Basava to death. Immadi-Bijjala accordingly ordered that Basava should be apprehended, and that all the Jangams, wherever seized, should be executed. And, on hearing this, Basava threw himself into a well, and died; while his wife "Nîlâmbâ" poisoned herself. Channabasava, however, after Immadi-Bijjala's resentment was allayed, presented his uncle's treasures to the king, and was admitted to favour and to a ministerial office at court.³