________________
COMPROMISE ON PROTECTIVE TAX
It is a well-known historic fact that the Shatrunjay hill was owned by Shwetambara Jains since the time of Akbar and Shri Shantidas Nagarsheth. However, since that emperor and his decendants Jehangir, Shahjahan and others did not ratify the gift on a tamrapatra, the ownership got transferred into the hands of the king of Palitana. This king, Shri Sursinhji decided to tax the pilgrims to Shatrunjaya saying that the tax was meant to arrange for the protection of the hill. Each pilgrim was to pay Rs. 2 as a protective tax. This caused a lot of inconvinience to the pilgrims.
At Surajkund near Shatrunjaya, there was a shrine with the 'paduka' of Shri Rishabhdev Bhagwan. Some mischiefmakers dug out the shrine on 7-6-85 and on 19-6-85, the paduka was declared as lost. The Brahmins of Palitana complained that the Jains had dug out the Paduka because they were Guru Dattatreya's padukas (perhaps someone instigated the Brahmins to do so). So the attendants employed by the Jains at that place of pilgrimage were beaten and arrested.
Telegrams were sent about these incidents to the Governor and other officers. A representative group of the Jains met the Governor Lord Ray at Poona on 18-7-85. Then Asst. Political Agent looked into the matter. But that inquiry was objected to as one-sided. Then the government said, that regarding the matter of the harrasment of the Jain attendants by the ruler of Palitana, there will be an inquiry at Songadh and the case against the Jain attendants which was in the Palitana court, would be transferred to the court of the Asst. political agent. At that, Virchandbhai and other Jain leaders went to the governor at Mahableshwar. Around
Jain Education International
55
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
