________________
LXXVI : PAÑCALINGĪPRAKARAŅAM
On reaching Anahilpur Pattan, they did not even get a proper palace to
stay as the temple-dwellers were very strong there and did not want any right monks to come there and upset the applecart for them. However, they ultimately stayed with the court-priest and when the priest described the virtues of the right monks to the king, Durlabhraj, he ordered a place to stay for the monks to be built there. This was possibly, the first time that the tradition of
monastic shelter (Vasati or Upāśraya) started. Under the influence of the temple-dwellers, the public also resisted
the presence of these right-conduct practicing monks in the town. Finally, in the year 1080 V.E. a public debate was held, in the court of king Durlabharaj, in which Ācārya Jineśvarasüri contested on behalf of Ācārya Varddhamānsūri and defeated Surācārya, the head of order of the temple-dwelling monks. The king, too, agreed with the views expressed by Ācārya Jineśvarasūri and said, “Jineśvarasūri's views are correct.” As the Gujarati word for correct is ‘khara", from then on his monastic group came to be known as 'Kharatara gaccha’or the group that adhered to correct monastic practices. Jineśvarasūri became its first head of order (Gcchādhipati). ?
Jineśvarasūri's period : As the dates of Jineśvarasūri's birth and
death are not available, it is not possible to decide upon the exact dates of his period. However, on the basis of the following
Yugpradhan Ācārya Jinadattasūri. . . . ., ibid, p. 29. Ibid, p. 31-33.