Comprehensive History of Jainism Volume II

SR No.: 002003
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Aseem Kumar Chaterjee
Publisher: Firma KLM Pvt Ltd
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 414
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Religion
File Size: 19 MB

Page 47

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA
37
Simba, was an enemy of the Jains. A manuscript2T8, dated V.S. 1303, shows that up to that year Tejahpāla was the mahāmātya of Visaladeva. Shortly after this date, we find a Brahmin called Nāgada acting as the mahāmātya'76 of Visaladeva, However a number of Jain manuscripts were written during his reign ???,
The reign of Visaladeva coincided with the activities of another great Jain layman, called Jagadu, who was an immensely rich merchant. His pious activities have been told in a 14th-century work called the Jagaducarita*78. The authenticity of this work, written by Sarvānanda, is proved by the fact, that it correctly represents both Visaladeva of Gujarat and Sultan Nāsiruddin of Delhi as Jagadu's contemporaries278, Jagadu's pious achievements are also related in another 14th-century work called the Upadeśatarangiņi280, composed by Ratnamandira. According to the Jagaducarita881, a number of the religious activities of this Jain merchant, were done at Bhadreśvara in Cutch. We are told that he adorned at this town, the sacred temple of Viranātha with a golden knob and a gold staff. He also built a new temple at that town containing 24 images of Tirthankaras, He gave a gold covering for the image of Pārsvanātha in the same place, and also repaired the tanks, built by king Kumārapāla and Mülarāja and the step-well of Karna at Bhadreśvara. Jagadu, we are further told, made a garden for supplying flowers for the worship of Jina icons at Bhadreśvara. Among his other pious works at Bhadreśvara, we can mention the building of Pauşadhaśālā and a mosque for the Muslims. This spirit of catholicity, which was utterly absent in Muslim rulers of those days, was also shown by Vastupāla, the great Jain minister of Viradhavala 282, and much earlier by the celebrated Jaya. simha Siddharāja 288. At Vardhamāna ( modern Wadhawana in Saurāşțra ), according to the poet, Jagadu built two Jain temples. At other places also, he built Jain temples. This celebrated merchant also made three pilgrimages to Girnar