Jain Legend Vol 4

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

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world. Appoint Jinavallabha as Pontiff and fulfil the last wish of our Guru."
After the demise of Abhayadeva S ri, Jinavallabhga i wandered for some time in A ahillapura Pa a a and the neighbouring areas. He comprehended that staying there he could not pursue religious activities appease his conscience and bring glory to Jina order. Soon, at an auspicious time, he left Pa a a along with two ascetics and roamed different places like Citraka etc. to promulgate the Reformed path (Vidhi dharma) propounded by Lord Jinendra. During his journey, wherever he went, be it a village, a city or some other place, he found that all places were under the predominant influence of Temple dwellers. He wandered in those places promulgating and eulogizing the Reformed path (Vidhimarg) and reached Citrak a. As the place was totally dominated by and under the influence of Temple dwellers, in spite of all his efforts, he was not offered a place to stay. The Temple dwellers laity of that city asked them to stay in Ca dk (ma ha) monastery, which was located in a deserted place on the outskirts of the city. Mentally contemplating on his guru and commanding (ruling deity) sana Dev to protect him he entered into Ca d Ma ha. Propitiated by his meditation through knowledge (j na dhy na) and practice of holy path, sana Dev protected him against all calamities.
The word about Jinavallabha S ri spread like wild fire among Cittauda's (Citrak a) inhabitants that he is not only a scholar in Jain philosophy but an erudite in all Indian philosophies, law, logic, P in A adhy y Grammar (earliest grammar text in Sanskrit), 84 types of plays (N aka
stras) and prosody. The moment this message spread around, scholars in Veda- Ved mgas and philosophies started pouring into Ca d k Ma ha. Those scholars put forward their doubts in their respective disciplines. Jinavallabha S ri clarified their doubts to their utmost satisfaction with substantial evidences. The pleased scholars recounting the greatness of Jinavallabha S ri spread his fame in the city, saying that it was the good fortune and destiny of the residents of Cittauda that such a great scholar and an erudite set foot on their land. Attracted by the fame of Jinavallabha S ri, few lay devotees also came to behold him. Observing that he strictly adhered to the code of conduct of asceticism as described in the scriptures, the ‘ordinary’laity, 'S dhaka laity etc. accepted Jinavallabhaga i as their preceptor.
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