Jainism in Gujarat

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

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folded hands. On the full-moon day of Chaitra, & monster procession attended by the king, bis feudatories, public servants, and citizens started from the Kumaravihāra An image of Parsvanatha was set up in a car and exhibited to the Public eye. When the procession came to the palace gate, Kumarapala worshipped the image of Parsvanatha set up in the chariot, in the presence of the congregation and waved lights before it. The chariot driven by elephants was led in procession for eight days and exhibited to the public eye. In the month of Asvin, also, the king celebrated the car-festival for nine days and asked his feudatories to glorify Jainism The latter obeyed royal commands by building Jain temples, holding car-festivals and honouring Jain monks
of the Jina
CE
Somaprabhasuri's account of the car-festivals is confirmed by Hemasuri In the Mahaviracharita, it is said, On the whole earth, as far as the ocean, he will cause the statues of the Arhat to be borne in procession, on cars, in every village, in every town " The verse adds to our knowledge by informing us that the car-festivals were not
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56 Kumārapālapratıbodha, p. p. 174–5.
57. Hemasuri, Mahāviracharita, XII, 76.