________________
127
lerated his fresh teaching with full zeal and vehemence. He went to the places where the poor ascetics could not go, and dexterously created disgust for idol-worship in the mind of thousands of people.
There-after he pronounced 31 Sūtras as the foundation of his tenet-and interpreted them in his own way-especially those supporting image-worship. He made such drastic changes in the Āvasyaka Sätra that it attained altogether a new form
In this way he toiled hard for about twenty-five years in order to propagate his doctrine, but, as luck would have it, he could secure no true followers. Ultimately, in V S 1533 he came across a man of Prāgvāt class, Bhāņa by name, a native of Araghattapätaka near Shirohi, -who was bold enough to take to asceticism even without being initiated by any teacher. This selfmade monk assumed the false name of Dhundhaka and began to lead astry the ignorant. In V. S 1568 he secured a disciple called Rūpaji.
There-after Jivāji and the old Varasimha became his disci. ples in 1578 and 1587 respectively.
Thus, though Lonkashāh himself was not initiated, others took to initiation by virtue of his instructions and became Rşis" !
Another impostor, Bija by name, propagated the “Bijā-doctrine" in V. S. 1570.
Out of this very Loñkā-tenet did spring the Dhuņohiya sect that was propounded by Lavaji the adopted son of Fûlābās of Vorà Viraji belonging to Sürat*
53. Śri Laksmisāgara Sūri Birth V S. 1464. Initiation V S 1477 (1470 ?) Pannyāsa 1496 : Vācaka-pada 1501 Ācārya-pada 1508 : Pattadharaña 1517
*Vide Gacchamataprabandha, page 150.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org