Jain Journal 1996 01

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

Page 28

SOMĀNI : VIJAYADEVA SŪRI OF TAPĀGACCHA
89
noticed from there mentioning of some families of Ahmedābād. On Jeth Sudi 6 VE 1678, the Sūrīji accompanied the Jain families of Udaipur to Satruñjaya and consecrated to icon of Sambhavanātha. In VE 1683, he accompaying a Sangha arranged the Pratisthās of some icons installed by Jaimal of Jodhpur and some Śrimāri families and others from Surāt. It seems that he was having his much influence in Pātan, Māngrol, Diva and Surāt. Except a few inscriptions of Ahmedābād of VE 1670, 1675 to 1676 and 1686, no other record of the place is known mentioning Vijayadeva Sūri. The following inscriptions are also known pertaining to Pātan, Diva, Surāt, Māngrol and other towns :
1. 1683 and 1687 from Surāt. 2. 1681, 1682, 1683 and 1685 from Pātan. 3. 1686 from Diva. 4. 1682 from Māngrol. 5. 1686 from Medatā. 7. 1694 from some town having the last letters Pātan.
It shows that Vijayadeva visited Satruñjaya several times with the pilgrims from Rājasthān and Gujarāt and consecrated the icons there. The colophon of a ms, Hitopadeśa (VE 1681) mentions a Sanghayātrā to Satruñjaya with the Sangha of Sirohi started in the leadership of Tejapāl. 19A
Vijayadeva visited Sorath to pay homage to Sankheśvara Pārsvanātha, Siddhācala Rewantaka and other ancient sites. He went to Azāhāhar-Pārsvanātha, Unã and spent a rainy season there. The Sūriji thereafter went to Girinār. At Nawānagar, he met the Jāmaruler Devarāja and gave him religious instructions (Pratibodha). After spending the cãturmāsa, he went to Surāt, and then visited south India.
When Sūrijī came back from south India, he became much popular. He came to Gāndhār Port when several notable citizens from Ahmedābād, Surāt, Pātan and other places came to receive him. At the request of Ratanji Sāha and Dhanji Sāha, the Sūriji stayed at Gāndhāra, Sāhibdeva's son and Akhe Sāha spent lavishly on this occasion.
From Gāndhāra, the Sūriji came to Ahmedābād and stayed at
19A. Amộtalāl Maganlāl Sāha op. cit. p. 190.