Jain Journal 1992 07

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

Page 55

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JAIN JOURNAL
earliest known date of his successor Jinmeru is of MS Samăcări dated VE 1562. It was copied by Gyānmandir Gaņi at Jaisalmer.61 Jinmeru died in Ve 1582.
He was succeeded by Jinguņaprabha Suri of Chājed clan of Jodhpur, From Jaisalmer, a Sangha headed by Devapāl, Sadārang, Jiyā, Basta, Rāimal and others came to Jodhpur and requested Sriji to visit Jaisalmer, He accepted their request and came to Jaisalmer on Aşadh badi 13 VE 1587, and remained there for several years.62 In VE 1594, when he was in Jaisalmer, there was a serious drought and people suffered much for want of water. It is said that Mahärăwal Luņakarņa requested him for redressing the plighat of the people. While loitering in Upåsara, he with the power of mantras got opulent rainfall on Bhadwă sudi 1. This increased the fame of Begad gaccha.63 He enjoyed a long life and died at Jaisalmer at the age of 90. He was contemporary to Mabärāwal, Luņakarņa, Māldeva, Hairāj and Bhim. He enjoyed a respectable position and several festivities were arranged under his supervision. He led a Sangha to Siddhācal started from Jaisalmer. At the time of selection of Jincandra Suri of main branch of Kharatar-gaccha, Mahārāwal Maldeva consulted him. The Suri-mantra was given by him to Jincandra Süri. A good number of MSS copied at Jaisalmer during this period are Ogh-Niryukti (VE 1629), Kalpa Sūtra (1623), Nandi Sūtra (VE 1627), Raj-Praśniya (1619) Aupapätika Sūtra (VE 1617) and others.
After Jinguņaprabha's death Jincandra Sûri succeeded. He consecrated a stūpa of Jinguņaprabha Sūri in VE 1663 (1603 A.D.) at Jaisalmer. There is a long inscription of 21 lines engraved by Chājed clan of Oswäls.64 Jincandra Sūri was the son of Bafpā Rūpāji Sāha. He was converted to Jain monkhood by Jinguņaprabha Sari, and it was he who nominated him, as his successor. Mahimāsamudra, a Jain monk, composed two good poems in his praise. The copying of MSS by Begad monks continued at Jaisalmer. Mahimäsumudra copied Desi-Nama-Mäla in Ve 1701. A copy of MS Uttarādhyana Sutra was made in VB 1711 in Pārsvanāth temple of Jaisalmer by Ratnasom. The Pāndava-Rasa was copied at Meharā (Sind). It seems that these monks continued their journeys to Sind. The copies of Sarasvata Vyikarana (VE 1707) and Dvādaśa Sandhi (VE 1695) were also made.
61 Punyavijay. op. cit., p. 201, 185, 189. 62 Vinaysägar, Kharatargaccha-ka Itihās, p, 205. 63 Ibid., pp. 205-206. 61 Nāhar, III, No. 2505.
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