Jain Journal 1992 07

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

Page 50

JULY, 1992
Thiru Saha on Māgh sudi 12 VE 1675.45 Karamsi Säha and Malu Arjun also led a Sangha-yatrā to Satruñjaya under the guidance of Jinrāj Sūri on Baisakh sudi 13 VE 1675 (1676). This Sangha later merged into the Sangha started by Rūpaji Somji of Ahmedabad. A pátrápattikā depicting the scene of Sangha-yatrā was painted by a Jain Sadhu at Jaisalmer. It is now preserved in the Kharatar-gaccha Bhandar of Jaipur.46 Jinrāj Sūri visited Jaisalmer in VE 1677, when Arjun Malu did praveś otsava. He also visited Agrã and was venerated by Shāh Jehan in VE 1686 (1630 A.D.)
An important event took place in VB 1686 (1629 A.D.) when the Jain Sangha of Kharatar-gaccha was again divided. Jinsägar who remained a close follower of Jinrāj Sūri for many years, turned against him. The reason is not clear. But it seems that Samaysundar's pupil Harşanandan, who was very competent scholar, was the main cause of this split. He took the side of Jinsågar and a separate branch of Ācārya-säkhá came into existence."7 Jinrāj Sūri again visited Jaisalmer in VE 1693 and consecrated the icons of Lodravā, He composed the Salibhadra Caupai which was illustrated in the Mughal art style. It is now in a private collection of Calcutta. Jinrāj Sūri also consecrated several icons which are now in the Jain temple of Nahaton-ki-Guwad, Bikāner bearing the dates VE 1686 to 1690. He died at Pāțan on Aşadh sudi 9 VE 1700.48
On the death of Jinrāj Sūri at Păţan, Jinratna Sūri succeeded in VE 1703 (1646 A.D.). He remained at Jaisalmer in VE 1704 to 1707. We do not find any inscription of his time. He arranged some dikşās in Jaisalmer. From there he went to Agrā where he died in Ve 1711. Jinratna Sari succeeded him. He laboured hard to improve the conduct of the Yatis, who were indulging in the sithilācāra. We do not have any inscription of his time from Jaisalmer and Bikāner. He enjoyed a long life and died in 1763. On his death Jinsukh Sūri was appointed as an Ācārya. He visited Jaisalmer and composed a Jaisalmer Caitya Paripāti, 49 having the detailed description of the Jain temples. He died at Riņi on Jeth sudi 11 VE 1780, and was succeeded by Jinbhakti
45 Nāhar, III, Nos. 2544, 2546, 2568, 2570, 2572. 45 Bhanwarlal Nähatá, Jaisalmer-ke Kalāpurņa Mandir, pp. 52-56; The author's
History of Jaisalmer, pp. 169-170. 47 Agarcand Nāhatā Jinrāj Suri (Intro.). 43 Agarcand Bhanwarlal Nāhatā, Bikāner Jain Lekh Sangraha, Nos. 1417, 1424-1430 49 Nähar, III, Introduction.