Jain Journal 1966 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

Yuga-Pradhan Sri Jinacandra Suri
a biographical sketch
Of the Jaina ācāryas that flourished in the 16th century, the name of Sri Jinacandra Suri should stand foremost, not only on account of his limitless scholarship but also on account of the profound influence that he exercised on his contemporaries, more particularly on the Mughal emperor Akbar.
The influence of the Jaina teachers on the Court of Akbar has been widely recognised by the historians. Thus Vincent A. Smith writes,
"But the Jaina holy men undoubtedly gave Akbar prolonged instruction for years which largely influenced his actions and they secured his assent to their doctrines so far that he was reputed to have been converted to Jainism."
Iswari Prasad goes so far as to declare that Jinacandra "is reported to have converted the emperor to Jainism".
And it was not for nothing that Akbar, so widely known for his love of other religions, was so deeply attracted by Sri Jinacandra. Once when the ācārya was approaching Akbar's Court on invitation, the emperor came forward to welcome the revered guest. But suddenly Jinacandra stopped his steps. When Akbar requested him to come, he said, "I cannot walk over three living beings." The fact of the case was that in a tunnel which underlay the approach to the Mughal Court, a she-goat had been placed with Akbar's knowledge. But when Jinacandra said that he could not walk over three living beings, Akbar said that there must be only one. But soon it was discovered to the surprise of all that the she-goat that was carrying had meanwhile given birth to two kids, making a total of three.
Jinacandra was born in A. D. 1538 (Vikram 1595) in Khetsar in Jodhpur. His father Srivant Shah was a wealthy merchant and his mother