Amoghavarsha vs Maha Thammaracha I

Amoghavarsha converted from Hinduism to Jainism under the influence of the Jain acharya Jinasena. He became a devout patron of Jainism, building temples and supporting Jain monasteries. This shaped his policies of religious tolerance.

Amoghavarsha, with assistance from the scholar Srivijaya, composed the Kavirajamarga, the earliest extant work on Kannada poetics. This text standardized Kannada literary conventions and promoted the language as a medium for high culture.

Amoghavarsha commissioned the construction of Jain temples (basadi) at Shravanabelagola, a major Jain pilgrimage site. He also erected a statue of the Jain tirthankara Mahavira. This solidified his legacy as a Jain patron.

Amoghavarsha abdicated the throne in favor of his son Krishna II. He then adopted the life of a Jain ascetic, practicing sallekhana (fasting unto death) at Shravanabelagola. This act reflected his deep religious devotion.

Maha Thammaracha I, as king of Sukhothai, promoted Theravada Buddhism as the state religion. He invited monks from Sri Lanka to reform the Buddhist order and built numerous temples, establishing the religious foundation for Thai Buddhism.

Maha Thammaracha I authored the Trai Phum Phra Ruang, a cosmological treatise describing the three worlds of Buddhist cosmology. The text became a foundational work of Thai literature and religious thought.

Maha Thammaracha I expanded the Sukhothai Kingdom through military campaigns, extending its influence over neighboring principalities. His conquests consolidated Sukhothai's power in central Thailand before the rise of Ayutthaya.