Jain Journal 1976 04

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

Page 30

APRIL, 1976
157
SIE
Pinjarapole at Calcutta and a Dharamkanta in the Jauhari Bazar locality there. He had a desire to revive the Bhaddilpur shrine and therefore purchased the hill, but this did not materialise in his life time. Although Badridas was under some obligation to the British, it was against his conscience to approve all their deeds blindly at the cost of his faith. Some Englishmen are said to have started a slaughter-house near Sammet Shikhar, a sacred spot for Jainas in Hazaribagh district in Bihar. Being an ardent follower of non-violence this kind hearted pious Jaina detested very much the cruelty
Rai Bahadur Badridas being done to animals at that sacred spot which is known as the salvation ground of several Sramana Tirthankaras who had voiced against killing animals. With the cooperation of Seth Manik Chandra J. P. of Bombay and others he managed to get the slaughter-house closed. Similarly, he got stopped the fishing business at the pond in front of Dadabari at Calcutta by purchasing the whole piece of land including that tank without bargaining for the price demanded. The affluent Badridas had a sophisticated taste. After purchasing the plot he planned to turn it into a nice garden with a beautiful pond therein. At that time his mother Khushal Kunwari was alive. When he consulted her in the matter she advised him to build a beautiful Jinalaya which may be of use to the community as well. The obedient son carried out the wish of his mother and also fulfilled his own cherished desire of having a beautiful garden with a tank there.
The construction of the temple was completed in 1867 A.D. When the building was complete Sri Jinakalyan Suri, the preceptor of Badridas, advised him to instal there the image of lord Sitalanath, the 10th Tirthankara, known as the lord and protector of the aquatics, as the principal deity. Badridas wanted to have a really charming icon of the deity. In search thereof he travelled a lot but was baffled everywhere. At last when he reached Agra and was attending a ceremonial procession there, leaving all the hopes to get the desired one, a saintly person came to his rescue. On knowing the purpose of his travelling there, the holy man took him to an underground place in a deserted temple in Roshan Mohalla. When Badridas reeachd there he was wonder-struck to find