________________
204
Pada (status of Ācārya) to Pandit Nayavimala Gagi on Thursday the fifth day of the bright-half of Falguņa Māsa of V. S. 1748 and named him as Ācārya Śri Jnāna-vimala Soriji. Sheth Någaji Pārékha spent a large sum of money in celebrating the festival of the Suri Pada.
Śrimad Ācārya Mahārāja Śri Jnāna-vimala Sūriji gradually became well-known among the Jaina Community of India and also among Non-jains by his superior knowledge and austerities. He did his vihāra (journeying) in Gujerat, Mārwara and Saurastra.
When, however, Ācārya Mahārāja Śri Jnāna-vimala Suriji went to Surat in V. S. 1777 he was accorded great reception by the millionairs and the general public of Sürat. He lived there during the four months of the rainy season, and instructed the people in the Path of the Jaina Religion. There was great austerity and numerous vow-takings. At the close of the rainy season, Acărya Maharāja Sri Jnâna-vimala Sûriji and his disciples accompanied a Sangha (a pilgrim-caravan ) to Siddhācalaji (Mount Satrunjaya) in Saurāstra headed by Sheth Premaji Părékha of Surat. There were thirty-five thousand (35000) pilgrims and three hundred (300) Sadhus and Sadhvis in the Sangha Sanghvi Sétha Prémaji Paréka had an excellent Jaina temple built on Siddhicalaji at a great cost. The installation ceremonies of images of Tirthaikaras in that temple were performed by Ãcărya Maharaja Sri Jnana-vimala Sūriji amid great pomp. Even during his old age, Ācārya Mahāraja Šri Jnāna-vimala Sūriji had done Navvānu Játra (going up and down ninety-nine times) on the Satrunjaya Giri. Besides, the Guru Maharaja had gone on a pilgrimage to Mount Girnara. Mount Abu, Taranga Hill and various other sacred places and he had the installation ceremonies of images of Tirtharkaras at a number of places,
The vihara of Ācārya Maharaja Śrī Jnāna-vimala Suriji was generally limited to Khambhat, Surat, Rājanagar (Ahmedabad )
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org