Jainism in Rajasthan

Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 45

212
JAINISM IN RAJASTHAN
protection for a year to all animals of the sea adjoining Cambay, the place of pilgrimage.
Jinachandra was held in high esteem by Jahangir also. In 1611 A.D., being incensed at the misconduct of the dissolute Darsani, Jahangir not only banished him but ordered that members of other Jaina sects should also be ousted from the realm. This caused wide-spread consternation amongst all sections of the Jainas. The news reached Jinachandrasūri who travelled from Patan to Agra and called on the empesor. After a piolonged discussion on religion, Sūrijī succeeded in persuading the emperoi to withdraw the order. He breathed his last in 1613 A.D. at Bilātā in Marwar.1
JINASIŃHASŪRI: After Jinachandrasūri, his pattadhara Jinasimhasūri became the leader of the Kharataragachchha. In Rajasthan, he mostly lived at Bikaner, Sirohi etc. In the Śrī Jinasımıhasūrigīta of Rāyasamudra, it is related that he had great influence on Jahangir. At his request, the emperor assured safety to all living creatures. He conferred upon him the title of "Yugapradhāna'. In 1616 A.D., Jinasuinhsūri spent the Chātu māsa at Bikaner. In the Jinarājasīti nāsa composed in 1624 A.D. by Srisāra, it is written that Jahangir was much anxious to see him, and he sent an officer to Bikaner to invite him. But unfortunately, he died in 1617 A.D. on his way to Agra.
The event mentioned in the Jaina rūsa is more or less of the legendary character, intended to glorify the Jaina order, and can only be accepted when supported by some contemporary evidence. The attitude of Jahangir to Jinasimha (Alias Mānasimha) and towards the Jainas, as it is made to appear in them, does not seem to have been correctly represented. At the time of Khusru's rebellion, Mānasimha prophesied that Jahangir's reign would last only for two years. This encouraged Rāyasimha of Bikanet to rebel. He was, however, paidoned by Jahangir who waited for an opportunity to punish Mānasimha. In 1616 A.D. when Jahangir went to Gujarat, he persecuted the Jainas as their temples were the centres of disturbance and their religious leaders were accused of immoral practices. He summoned Mānasimha to the court but the latter took poison on his way from Bikaner and died. Evidently there seems to be more truth in these facts than the above concocted story, i Kharatar agachchha Brihadgur vāvalı, Artıhāsıka Jainalcāvya-Sangraha, pp. 58, 81
and 82 and Yuga pradhāna Jinachandrasūra