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Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
After Virprabhu, Champa Shravika fasted for six months. During her fast, she would
go to the temple everyday in a horse buggy with a band of musicians and donate along her way. Once the Mughal emperor, Akbar, saw all this and inquired about it. He came to know that she intended to fast for six months. Then emperor thought, "It is difficult to keep roja (Muslim fasting) for one day even though there is the freedom to eat at night. How is it possible to fast continuously for so long without eating or drinking at all?" As the emperor was respectful of
other religions he
sought an answer, and so he
called upon
Champa shravika for an
explanation. Champa told
him that "This
is possible only because of Hirsuriji Maharaj's blessings." The disbelieving emperor wished
to test the veracity of this and so he kept her
imprisoned in which Champa completed fast very successfully. This
a
Jain Education International
was possible because of Champa's belief in true religion and the blessings of gurudev. The emperor was moved by this turn of events, and invited Acharya Hirsusiji to his palace. This was the beginning of a cordial relationship between Jains and Muslims.
139
ED
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भावक
Shravika: Champa
(Vikram Shatak 14)
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