Jain Journal 1992 07

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

Page 48

JULY, 1992
of Dadāguru Jinkusal Sūri. During his return journey from Derăwar to Jaisalmer, he died enroute in a village near Derāwar for want of water. He observed fast on that day of Pancami, but no water could be obtained during the day time inspite of best efforts. A stupa was erected on the site, where he died.88 This place is also now in Pakistan. Several illustrated Kalpa Sūtra and Kalkācarya Katha were got prepared by him.39
After the death of Jinmāņikya Sūri the Sangha went to Jaisalmer and a quarrel broke out about the selection of successor. The matter was referred to Mahārā wal Māldeva, who selected Sumatidhir (later known as Jincandra Suri) in concurrence of Guņaprabha Süri of Begad-Kharatar-gaccha. Thus Jincandra was appointed as an Acārya on Bhadwă sudi 9 ve 1612 at Jaisalmer. 40 Next year, he passed the rainy season at Bikäner and instructed the Sadhus and Yatis to maintain austerity. These activities to remove śithilācāra earned him good name. Kuśalalabh, a famous Jain poet, flourished at Jaisalmer during this period. He composed several good works in Rājasthani language. His Dhola-Märu is very famous. He was much venerated by the royal family and non-Jains also. According to the Jain sources, he was Guru to Mahārāwal Harrāj of Jaisalmer. His other works are Pingal-Siromani, Madhavānal Käm Kandala and others.
Akbar invited Jincandra Sūri to his court and venerated him very much like Hirvijay Sûri of Tapāgaccha. Jincandra also obtained firmans prohibiting the slaughter of animals on the certain days. 41 While returning from Lahore, he came via Derăwar, Uccă and other towns of Sindh. He paid homage to the stūpas of Jinkuśal Sūri and Jinmāņikya Sūri. He was requested by Mahārāwal Bhim to pass a rainy season at Jaisalmer, to which he agreed. He remained there in the year Ve 1653 (1596 A.D.). In VE 1662, he remained at Bikaner and consecrated several icons in the Jain temple situated at the Nahāton ki Guwad (Rşabhadev temple). 2 After the death of Akbar, Jahangir became the Emperor of India. He became displeased with Jain monks of Tapā-gaccha and ordered to take them away from Āgra.
38 Vinaysāgar, Kharatargaccha-kä Itihās, p. 191. 39 One MS of it is in the collection of Kr. Sangrāmsinha of Jaipur. It has got some
paintings. 40 Vinaysāgar, op. cit., p. 102. 11 Agarcand and Bhanwarlal Nāhatā, Yuga-Pradhan Jincandra Suri, Appendix. 42 Agarcand and Bhanwarlal Nāhatā, Bikaner Jain Lekh Sangrahu, pp. 185-197,
Inscriptions Nos. 1399-1413.