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legendary account.
114 THE JAINS IN THE DECCAN. . rising power of the Jains and Buddhists. Siva then commanded Veerabhadra to be born in this world in hụman form, in order to subdue them. In obedience to the order, Veerabhadra appeared in a dream to one Purushottama Patta and informed him that he would soon beget a son. The dream was realised. The babe was christened Rama and was brought up as a Saiva. Owing to his extreme piety and devotion for Siva, he was called Ekāntada Rāmayya. This was the man who, according to the legend, was responsible for the suppression of Jainism in that country. The story is further narrated that, while the Saiva devotee, Rāmayya, was worshipping, the Jains challenged him to prove the superiority of his god. He took up the challenge. The Jains promised to leave their bastis and the country, if Ekāntada Rāmayya agreed to do a miracle. They stipulated that his head must first be cut off and that he must get it back with the help of Siva. Rāmayya agreed. He was beheaded ; but, lo ! next morning he appeared again before the Jains who, however, refused to fulfil their part of the contract. Enrąged at this, Ekāntada Rāmayya began to destroy Jain places of worship. The matter was reported to Vijjala who was wroth at the action of the Saivites. But Rāmayya undertook to repeat the miracle. Vijjala was convinced of the superiority of Saiva faith and, dismissing the Jains from his presence admonished them to remain on peaceful terms with the Saivites.
