Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 195

propagate and spread Jainism. I told him that if he takes initiation into
rama a Dharma, we would give him enough food as per his desire. The beggar thought that the difficult path of rama a Dharma is better than his poor, worthless and miserable life. He at once took initiation from me, after which he became entitled to our food, which he ate up to his heart's content. The novice who had been starving from many days, suffered with severe stomach ache, when he ate the sumptuous meal. Consequently, he died that night. He was born to the blind prince Ku la, the son of A oka. O king! You are the same beggar who took initiation from me in your past life. This is the result of your rama a life that you led for one day because of which you are born as a king. ( c rya Suhast became a monk in V.N.S. 214. Samprati became a fullfledged king in V.N.S. 282. There is a gap of 68 years. Therefore,
c rya Suhast was present duing the just previous birth of Samprati. c rya Suhast attained heavenly abode in V.N. 291).
Propagation and expansion of Jainism by Samprati
In Jain literature, the Maurya emperor Samprati holds the same status as A oka holds in Buddhist literature. According to many Jain texts, after listening to the sermons of rya Suhast , King Samprati sent his officers, personnel, soldiers and his offspring - sons and daughters - to different places, within and outside the country in the guise of Jain monks and spread Jainism far and wide and even converted his vassals to Jainism. The personnel of Samprati, in the guise of Mok a, even went and wandered in non- rya (non-vegetarian) countries, enlightening them with the responsibilities of a Votary and rules of conduct of asrama a and made those places worthy of visit by the rama as. Yielding to the request of King Samprati, c rya Suhast sent a few rama as to non
rya lands to spread Jainism. They felt happy seeing the zeal and faith of the people there, towards Jain religion. The monks wandered freely in the non- rya lands just as they do in the rya lands and extensively propagated Jain religion there. The people in non- rya lands too, showed a lot of reverence towards & accepted the Jain religious principles of a Votary. c rya Suhast felt overwhelmingly happy listening to all these reports.
In few Jain texts, it is mentioned that Samprati got many Jina temples erected in both rya and non-rya lands, thus beautifying the places
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