Question

Who patronized the famous scholar Hemchandracharya?
A. Mulraj Solanki
B. Bhimdev Solanki
C. Siddhraj Jaysinh
D. Kumarpal

Answer 1

Hint:Hemchandracharya was born into the Modh Vanik (merchant) caste, in 1088 A.D.
At the age of just 21 years, he was given the name Hemchandracharya.

Complete answer:
Hemchandracharya was born into the Modh Vanik (merchant) caste, in 1088 A.D. He was born in the town of Dhandhuka, sixty miles from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat State. Chachadev and Pahini were his parents. Upon his birth, he was named as Changdeva.
Acharaya Devasuri introduced Changdeva into monkshood and hence, named him Somachandra. He was unmatched in management and efficiency. At the age of just 21 years, Somachandra was made an “Acharya” by Acharaya Devasuri and was given the name Hemchandracharya.
The fame of Hemchandra's virtue and knowledge slowly spread everywhere. Due to the ability of Hemchandra and the cooperation of King Siddharaja of Gujarat, the noble culture was on the rise in Gujarat.
King Siddharaja was replaced by Kumarpal. It was predicted 7 years earlier by Hemchandra that Kumarpal would be the king. Also, the acharya had once saved the life of Kumarpal. Therefore, Kumarpal contemplated Hemchandra, his spiritual teacher (guru) and patron.
Kumarpal gave him the exceptional honour and looked for his advice in the shaping of his kingdom in Gujarat. In a very short span of time, Gujarat became a centre of non-violence, learning, and good culture. Under the influence of Hemchandra, King Kumarpal accepted Jainism. He forbade the violence and killing of any animal in his kingdom. King Kumarpal made many laws that strengthened the Jain religion.

Hence the correct answer is option D.

Note:In the area of metaphysics, Hemchandra was a Yogi. His work Yoga-Shastra, a treatise on yoga, is very popular. People used to call him 'Kali-Kala Sarvajna' meaning ‘all-knower in the dark period’. In 1173A.D. at the age of eighty-four, he died.