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Ancient Jaina Hymns
349
possible existence of several Pādaliptas at different periods29.
Subsequently, at the time of Vijayasimha Sūri, who is known as the author of an ancient hymn, though his time is uncertain', Broach was destroyed by fire, which consumed the wooden structure of Sakunikā-vihāra. Vijayasimha Sūri, who was the Ācārya of the temple, caused the same to be re-erected in wood. According to our source, this structure, having been rendered uninflammable by the Sūri's magic power, lasted till, in the time of the Solanki King Kumārapāla of Gujarat, Ambada rebuilt it in stone. Re. its fate in the intervening period, our source has nothing to say.
Its existence is, however, testified by two references in other works. One of these references is contained in Śricandra Sūri's 'Munisuvrata-caritra', a work of nearly 11,000 Prāksta Gāthās, which is assumed to have been composed in about V.S. 120031. It states that Maladhārin Abhayadeva of the Harsapurîya Gaccha, one of the author's spiritual ancestors (otherwise known to have performed the consecration of Antariksa Pārsvanātha, a famous Tīrtha at Sirpur, near Akolā, in V.S. 1142 ), caused golden pinnacles ( 'hemamaya-kalasa' ) to be fixed on 'Savaliyā-vihāra', i.e. 'Śakunikā-vihāra' by 'Varanagasūya Saṁtuya’32, i.e., Sāntu, or Sampatkara, the pious Jaina Minister of the Solanki kings Bhīma (V.S. 1078-1120), Karņa ( 1120-50 ) and Jayasimha ( 1150-99), a well-known figure of the Prabandha literature33.
The second reference occurs in the Prākrta Pārsvanāthacarita of Devabhadra Sūri ( of the Kharatara Gaccha )34, who states35 that he composed this work in V.S. 1168 in ‘Amadatta's Temple' at Broach, which town he describes as being 'attractive by the temples of Vira and of Muni Suvrata, adorned with golden pinnacles ('sovannimdaya-mamdiya-Munisuvvaya-Vira-bhavana-ramanie Bharuyacche tehim tthiehim mandire Āmadattassa' ). This reference very clearly indicates that in V.S. 1168, the temple of Muni Suvrata must still have been in the possession of the Jainas, and that it must have been a place fairly frequented and held in esteem by
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