________________
13
JAIN RELIGION IN NORTH GUJARAT &
SAURASTRA
Dr. Prafulla Raval Saurastra University, Rajkot.
Among all the religions of the world, JAIN RELIGION holds a very prominent and important place. Nonviolence is the prime constituent of jain religion. It is based on the principles of " Karma". It has glorified the life and it has been a bliss to all . Gujarat is the land where many renowned saints, ascetics, and warriors were born. Even many religious founders and their followers have come to Gujarat and made Gujarat as their centre for their religious activities. Even stili today many of them are very well respected and honoured by people. Herein an humble effort has been made to give some information regarding some jain ascetics, and pilgrimage places of North Gujarat and Saurastra. In the first part of this article we have given information with respect to North Gujarat and in the second half information regarding Saurastra is given.
NORTH GUJARAT : Acarya Shri Hirvijaysuriji
He was born in 1527 A.D. at Palanpur. His parents were Shri Kurashah and smt. Nathibai. He was named as Hirji. His parents died when he was very young, so he migrated to his elder sister's home in Patan. From the very childhood, under the able guidance of Scholars, he used to study grammar and other classical subjects. Upon hearing a religious discourse by Acarya Shri Vijaysensuriji, he decided to renounce the world and become a saint. He expressed his desire to his elder sisters and in the year 1540 A.D., he became the disciple of Acarya Shri Vijaysensuriji, and was named as Hirharshmuni. Having studied various jain scriptures, he was honored with the title of "Pandit and was posted as "Upadhyaya”, in the year 1551 and 1552 A.D. respectively. In very short period he had become expert in symbolic astrology and language analysis. He was a profound scholar of jain scriptures like mathematical scriptures, 11 Angas, 12 Upangas, 10 Paynas, 45 Agams,( cannons ), Karma Granth ( related to Karma ), Sangrhani ( related to cosmology ),Kshetravichar, and charitra granths (related to the conduct ). He had been to Devgiri for the studies of philosophy and scriptures. In the year 1554 A.D. he was designated as Acarya.
After becoming Acarya, he went to Patan.It is reported that there Shri Samarth Bhanusali, who was the minister of Suba Sharekhan (ruler ), had organized a big welcome celebration function to grace the arrival of Shri Vijaysuri.Due to the Kaldharma ( death ) of his guru Sri Vijaydansuri in the year 1566 A.D., the responsibilities of the gachha ( group ) came on to him. Since then he was known as "Gachhadipati Acarya Shri Hirvijaysuri.
It is observed from the records that the great Mogal Emperor Akabar had invited him in his darbar (court). A warm welcome was given to him when he visited Fatehpursikri. With discussions with him about religious principles, Emperor Akabar was so much impressed and satisfied that he
76
