Jain Journal 1978 07

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

Page 44

JULY, 1978
Son of Ratan Lal, a Jain devotee (śrāvaka), and his wife Khetala Devi of Vadodra village, Jinaprabha Suri bore the name of Subhata-Pala Suri in his childhood. It is surmised that he was born in V. S. 1317 (A. D. 1261) and died in V. S. 1382 (A. D. 1331). But the probability is that he was born in V. S. 1326/1270 A.D. and died in V. S. 1390/1334 A.D. While still a child he was taken by his parents to Deogiri where his Guru Jinasimha Suri named him Jinaprabha Suri and his tutelary deity, Padmavati Devi, foretold a bright future that awaited him at Delhi. Accordingly he went to Delhi in 1226 A.D. for the first time; and then in 1329. The emperor was pleased to discuss with him some problems of religion and heard him sing the Vijaya Yanira which, it was believed, protected miraculously the person wearing it against all mishaps and attacks. Presumably the emperor could understand Sanskrit as well as Prakrit in which language Jinaprabha Suri spoke. Jinaprabha Suri might have spoken Persian as well ; for it is said that he recited Persian verses at the royal court, and thereby awakened the jealously of some courtiers-Muslims 37 as well as non-Muslims. 38
An imposing amount of Jain literature was also produced ; and Jain books came to be written on paper, instead on palm leaves. 39 Merutungacaryam, 40 a Jain chronicler, completed in V.S. 1361 (A.D.
37 Among the Muslim courtiers, according to the Jain account, there was a learned
qalandar who had come from Khaurasan and offered to show some miracles. He threw up a cap (Kulah) which remained hanging in the air without any support. Then he said addressing the emperor ;
'Your Majesty! Is there anyone in your court who can bring down this
cap?'
The emperor looked towards his courtiers, expecting that at least one from among them might respond. Seeing this Jinaprabha Suri said :
"Your Majesty ! Just see what I will do.'
Saying this, he brought it down with his rajohara. Then the qalandar played another trick. He removed skilfully the earthen water pots which a woman was carrying on her head and kept them hanging in the air. Jinaprabha Suri challenged him to keep the water in the said earthen pots hanging without the support of the pots. The qalandar was unable to do so. Seeing this, Jinaprabha Suri stepped forward. He broke the earthen pots which were still hanging in the air and suspended the water in the cavities of the sky. Thereupon the emperor asked him to split up the water into drops which should remain suspended in the sky. Jinaprabha Suri did so ; and the qalandar was ashamed. (JPSB. pp, 145-146). Among the non-Muslim courtiers was one Raghavacaitanya. He was proficient in mantras. He resolved to drive away Jinaprabha Suri from the royal court. But he was worsted in a contest with Jinaprabha Suri and had to leave the court, crest-fallen.
(i) JPSB, pp. 18, 141, (ii) Jhavery, M. B., CCSM, pp. 229 ff. 39-40 Sheth, C. B., Jainism in Gujarat, pp. 182 ff.
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