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his life and how his community Protected him. But better days came when Akbar conquered Gujarat. In A. D. 1575 Akbar established Ibadatkhana for religious discussions which led to the proclamation of Din-e-Ilahi in A. D. 1579. In Ain-i-Akbari II. 3 (H. S. Jarret's translation ), we have a list of participants in these discuss. ions and HV is mentioned as · Hariji Sur'. There are two versions how Akbar came to know of HV. According to our text (X. 96-130 ) Akbar enquired if there was any saint who was competent to help people across this Samsara and Sūriji's name was strongly recommended by the members of that assembly. The other version gives the credit to a young Jaina Śravikā Campā who told that HV was her Guru.3.
Akbar sent an order to Sahib Khān (Shāhabuddin Ahmed Khān) his Subhedar at Ahmedabad to send for Sūriji respectfully with elephants, horses and other paraphernalia. It was the same Sāhib Khān who harassed Suriji in V. S. 1636. But the imperial order must be obeyed and the invitation to Fatehpur was conveyed to Acarya who was then staying at Gandhār on the west coast of Gujarat. Sūriji accepted the invitatir n but 1. Surīśvara aur Samrāt pp. 26–34. 2. “ The Shāhanshāh's court became the home of enqui· rers of 'seven clames and the assemblage of the wise
of every religion and sect".
-Akbarnāmā (H. Beceridge's translation) Vol. II Lp. 366. 3. Rşabhadāsa's Hīravijaya Sūri Rāsa and Padmasāgara
Gani's Jagadguru Kāvya inform us that the procession of Campā after her six months fast made Akbar curious and she told her of HV.
