Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 79

The Jains through Time
clear vision of his religion, as he put the Gujarat and other neighbouring provinces. welfare of others before his own. Whenever Had other acharyas emulated him, the Jain I think about this charming disciple of population might have reached hundreds of Jainism, I am filled with bliss at seeing how millions by now. I can testify to the fact that compassionate he was, and it seems that the his success in increasing the Jain following bright green leaves of his unstinting giving was unrivalled. However, the picture would were never touched by the frosts of winter. not be complete if I did not mention the
third Dada Guru, Jinkushal Suriji, who was Dada Guru Jindatta Suri
of the same lineage as Jindatta Suriji. He The glorious sun of Jainism in Gujarat was showed the same unflagging spirit by at its peak during the twelfth century. converting fifty thousand people to the Jain Reflected in its dazzling light, brilliant stars religion in Sindh, then a province of the rose, one after the other, in the Jain Moghuls. firmament, to further advance religious and cultural progress. One of the illustrious Shri Heervijay Suri : Moghul Samrat names on the list of epoch-making Pratibodhak personalities was Dada Guru Jindatta Suriji. It is a well-known historical fact that, after This bright star arose in the city of the Moghul's conquest of India, Jainism, as Dholkanagar and the whole of western and well as all other indigenous Indian religions, northern India was bathed in his refulgent suffered a great setback. It was against this light. The prudent Jindatta Suriji propagated background that Jain Acharya Shri ethical integrity and became a symbol of Heervijay Suri became a spiritual guide to holiness. Famous as 'First Dada Guru', he the Moghul Emperor, Akbar - a truly played a significant role in spreading Jainism significant event. He showed that with to the masses, and his triumph was that he wisdom and a broad vision of life, a sage of brought about an incredible increase in the one religion can impress people of another number of Jain followers in Marvad, Sindh, faith and win their praise and support. His