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Vimala-Vasahi]
ed that since at that moment it was in their possession, they would not allow him to erect the proposed shrine.
27
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Since Vimala was a high official of the State, he could have used his influence and power and with special permission of Bhimadeva could have forcibly seized the land. But, he was wise, sensible, broad-minded and not a fanatic. He abhorred the use of force in matters ecclesiastical and so persuaded the Brahmins to sell to him the marked-out land at any price which they would wish to obtain. The Brahmins devised a way out and came forward with a proposal which they thought was impossible for Vimala to fulfil. They asked him to measure as much land as he wanted, by spreading gold coins over it. Vimala agreed to do so and since spreading of circular coins would leave uncovered some intermediary space, he specially got square coins minted for the purpose and measured out the land he wanted. Jina is worshipped. Being of black stone, it is regarded as an idol of Munisuvratanatha, the 20th Tirthankara. Since a new metal image was prepared for installation as the chief idol in the shrine, and since this image was installed in an auspicious moment, Vimala Saha decided not to remove it from this spot.
(The translator has been able to mark clear traces of hair locks on the shoulders of this magnificent image, and believes that it represents the first Tirthankara Rṣhabhanatha since hair-locks on shoulders are carved only on images of Rṣhabhadeva, according to Jaina mythology. Now, the chief deity installed by Vimalasaha was Rṣhabhanatha. The present idol in the main sanctum is a much later one, installed during later repairs as the original one was mutilated. It is just possible that this image in cell 20, was the chief deity installed in one of the earlier repairs of the shrine; or was it the original one installed by Vimala Saha? It must be remembered that all the traditions saying that Vimala Saha installed a metal image of Adishvara as the Mulanayaka are later than the fourteenth century A.D.-Translator.)
