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Once when Abul Fazl and Hiravijayasūri were talking at Abul Fazl's place, Akbar came. Abul Fazl, being much impressed by the Sūri, praised him very much. Akbar then requested the Suri to accept something. The Suri did not want anything for himself but when the Emperor requested him repeatedly, he asked him to give the imprisoned birds their liberty and to prohibit the destruction of lives for eight days of the Paryushanaparva throughout the Empire. Akbar, then, gave the birds their liberty and prohibited the destruction of living creatures for twelve days (instead of eight) throughout the Empire."
Akbar's regard for Jainism increased day by day. He remained under Jain influence for several years and listened to the sermons of Hiravijayasuri, Santichandra, Bhanuchandra and other Jain monks. He was convinced that it was bad to eat animal food. So he gave up meat for many days in a year. One of the principles of Din Ilahi was, "It is not meet that man should make his stomach the grave of animals; " and those who embraced Din Ilahi had to abstain from meat.173
Adinatha prasasti of Hemavijaya
on the
(172) Vidyavijaya, Surisvara and Samrat, p. 124. (173) Vincent Smith, Akbar, p. 335
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
