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267
Several stories are told about the intercourse of Akbar and Hiravijayasūri. According to the first story, when the Emperor came to know that the sūri had come to see him from Gandhār to Sikri on foot, he asked him whether the suba of Gujarat gave him horses, chariots and elephants for his journey. To this, the sūri replied that the Governor of Gujarat was willing to give him whatever he wanted, according to Emperor's orders; but his religion forbade him the use of vehicles. When the Emperor came to know the strict rules which Hiravijayasūri and his pupils followed, he was much pleased. The story is historical.168
According to the second story, when the Emperor asked the suri the names of the places of pilgrimage of the Jains, the sūri told him that they were Satrunjaya, Giranāra, Mt. Abu, Pärswanātha Hill, Ashtapada, etc. There is nothing improbable in the story. 169
According to the third story, when the sūri refused to walk on the carpeted floor for fear of crushing the insects that might be on the floor, the carpet was removed under Emperor's orders
(168) Desai, Loc. cit., p. 545; Vidyavijaya, Surisvara and Samrat, p. 110.
(169) Vidyavijaya, Ibid p. 112. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
