Jaina Gazette 1928

Author(s): Ajitprasad, C S Mallinath
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office

Page 17

4
THE JAINA GAZETTE
the other at Cambay the young Samara stayed at home with his father at Patan and assisted him in the management of the family business. Luck brought Samara in touch with Alp Khan, the governor of Gujarat, who then resided at Patan. The Khan was highly pleased by his charming manners and intelligent demeanour and appointed him as his court jeweller.
In those days Ala-ud-din (A.D. 1295-1315) occupied the throne of Delhi. He was a bigoted monarch. He had not learnt to separate politics from religion. Image-breaking was an integral part of his policy and consequently his officers never hesitated to desecrate and destroy the temples and Muths whenever they got an opportunity to do so. In A.D. 1312, an iconoclastic outrage was perpetuated on the holy Mount Satrunjaya near Palitana. The temples were damaged, the idols were mutilated and the chief image of Lord Rishabha, which was established by Jawada was made away with. When Samara learnt of this, his heart was filled with grief and indignation. He vowed not to sit quiet until he had seen the great tirtha restored to its pristine beauty and purity. With this determination, he went straight to the residence of the governor and sought an interview with him. Admitted into his presence, he with tears in his eyes, told him his tale of woe and misery and implored him to allow him to 'restore the 'haj' of the Jainas. The Khan moved by the sincerety and earnestness of Samara acceded to his prayer and issued necessary firmans. The greatest obstacle which was in his way was now conquered. His next move was to obtain the permission of the Sangha. It was a formal affair. Having got it, he started building operations and it took two years to repair the damage. When everything was ready, Samara led a grand Sangha headed by his father to the holy Satrunjaya and had the chief image of Rishabha installed and consecrated by his venerable guru, the great Siddhasuri of the Upakesa-gachchha.
In A.D. 1318, his father died and shortly after he was called by the king of Delhi, Qutub-ud-din Mubarak (A.D. 1316–1320) who had heard of his great deeds. He was received with every mark of distinction worthy of his position and was honoured with Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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