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Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
SURACHARYA (S. 1078-1920)
King Bhoj
of Mandav Gadh sent a stanza to the assembly of King Bhim of Anhilpur who then sought a learned person to send a stanza in reply. The chief minister of Bhim's assembly invited Suracharya to create some good poetry. Before he took diksha, Suracharya, used to attend temple dances and make impromptu poems in rhythm with the music whenever the dancer would stop to catch her breath. As
his poetry skills were wellknown he was invited by King Bhim to write a stanza with which the king was very pleased. So proud was he of his intelligence, that the suriji would often punish his disciples with his ogho. In wielding it, the wooden stick would break and so the idea of inserting a steel rod in the ogho occurred to him. His guru, upon finding out
AP
about this said to him, "That steel is the weapon of Yamraja (the dev of death), and if you really want to
serve religion go and be a
winner in the asssembly of King Bhoj. King Bhoj's pandits were so afraid of being defeated by Surachryaji that they asked a child pandit to debate with him on their behalf. The child made a mistake and said "That is all that I have on my slate", indicating that there was nothing more he or the other pandits had to debate with. Thus, winning the Bhoj assembly, the suriji returned to the upashraya. He was welcomed back in Anhilpur by everyone, including his guru, King Bhim, and the people of Anhilpur.
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