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Jain Society of Greater Detroit PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV JUNE 27-JULY 6 1998
JAGATGURU SHRI HIRSURI (V.S. 1652-death) Updesh Prasad 5
Stories Of The Sadhu
Several religious scholars were discussing various topics in King Akbar's royal assembly when one scholar praised Hirsuriji. The king sent two messengers to suriji with an invitation. When the suriji reached Ahmedabad the king's subordinate offered him costly jewels but the Suriji returned them all stating that he was a true ascetic having no possessions. In Fatehpur he had religious discussions with the king's Muslim priest and enlightened about
Jainism. The king welcomed him in the drawing room but the suriji refused to walk on the carpet laid in the hall. He explained, "It is against my religion to walk without seeing where I am stepping. There may be lives underneath this carpet." The king was amazed upon seeing the number of lives in the form of insects when the carpet was lifted. The king insisted that the suriji take some donation. The suriji accepted a donation in form of non-killing of birds and non-killing during Paryushan. The king gave up charging entry fees at Shatrunjay and stopped killing. The king proclaimed him “jagatguru", the universal teacher.
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