Jainism in Gujarat

Author(s): Chimanlal Bhailal Sheth
Publisher: Godiji Jain Temple Mumbai

Page 33

Abbayadeva Malladhári was another learned Jain monk of the time of Siddharāja He obtained the biruda Malladhári from king Karna or Siddharāja of Anahilavāda He was honoured by king Khengara of Saurastra. At his suggestion, a Jain temple was erected in Medatā, near Ajmer, and a pilgrim tax vyas abolished by Raja Bhuvanapala. Prithviraja I, son of Vigraharaja III, is said to have adorned a Jain temple with a golden knob at Abhayadeva's persuasion.46
Abhayadevasūri, & pupil of Jayasimhasūri, belonged to the Praśnaváhana kula, Kotikagana, Madhyamašākba and Harshapuriya Gatchba. He was a successful missionary and helped many Brahmins to embrace Jainism. He was held in high esteen by Jayasimha, king of Anahilavāda, whom he persuaded to forbid the destruction of life for eight days in Paryushana 47 According to Peterson, Siddharaja and his retinue attended
46 Desai, Jarn Sahrtyano Itihasa, PP 227-9. 47 Gandhi I B., " Siddharija and Jain8", No. 8, Hiralal Hapsaraj, Jain Dharmano Itahasa, I, p. 3 Peterson makes & mistake here. He says that Jayasimha forbade the destruction of life on the 8 th and the 14 th of the bright and dark halves of the month and the fifth of the bright half (Peterson, IV, App, p 8). The same mistake is repeated by Hiralal Hongaraja (Loc Cit. I, p. 4) and in the Abhidhānarājendra, p 707.
MUL