________________
MIRACLE PLACES (ATISHAYA KSHETRAS) 83
Dharmashala which is called the Mahal, the best furnished part of the Dharmashala and in which I stayed in this Pilgrimage. The murder was committed by one Manohar Lal, his wicked disciple and heir-apparent, who was incarcerated in Jaipur Jail. There also he brought about a rising of the convicts and broke the Jail. He is reported to be in Nagda Jail now (January 1927). The present Bhattaraka, His Holiness Chandra Kirtiji is a simple man. He seems to be devoted to his work and may once more recover for the Temple some of its lost importance and glory.
The management of the Temple and its property is in the Nazim of the Jaipur State. The incumbent in December 1926 was a bearded gold earringed Vaishnava, whom I met, but the management is not quite settled. The ALL INDIA DIGAMBAR JAINA TIRTHA KSHETRA COMMITTEE, the JAIPUR JAINAS. the JAIPUR DURBAR and the Bhattaraka are the four claimants to have the right of management.
The most ordinary miracles known now are: The cowherds all round pray for cows etc. to become milking and for butter (ghee) to be produced. The first milk and ghee to be offered to the Lord.
Maunds and maunds of ghee and milk are thus offered at the Mela in March-April, on Chaitra Shukla 15, and the chariot is taken out on Baisakh Badi 1. The Mainas and Gujaras come in great numbers.
The tradition is that the chariot moves only by the hand of a Chamar taking hold of the reins of the bullocks. Now the Chamar only touches the reins; the Nazim drives; the Jainas crowd round the chariot and take it forward and back.
The explanation.
I personally believe Jainism to be the key to all science and thought and the guide for all right actions. Jainism believes in very-long-lived* Celestial Beings, the Devas. If this position is conceded and the Gods or Angels of the Bible, the Farishtas of Quran and the Devas of the Hindus and Jainas and Buddhists are not a mere myth and idle imaginations, then the explanation for
* For an account of these see the Bright Ones in Jainism, Allahabad, 1926, by the present writer.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
