Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

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influence on Akbar during the sixteenth century was so great that Heervijay Suri became renowned as Akbar-Pratibodhak - 'wisdom-giver' to Emperor Akbar. The teachings of Acharya Heervijay Suri made an impact on Akbar and he vowed not to hunt during the festival of Paryushan (Jain religious festival held during Chaturmas).
The Emperor wanted to honour the Acharya with many gifts, but since looking after the welfare of all living things is the greatest gift a true Jain shraman can have, the Acharya asked that prisoners be released, caged birds be set free and animal slaughter be ended during the eight days of Paryushan. All this was graciously granted by Akbar. The curtailing of violence by a Moghul emperor at the instruction of a Jain sadhu was totally unprecedented. Like Acharya Heervijay, his learned disciples also maintained their influence for a long period in the Moghul court, thus securing protection for animals, the ending of the tax on Jain pilgrims, improved security for holy places and the building of new Jain temples. This highlights the incomparable nature of
The Jains through Time
the deeds performed by the Jain shramans.
Shrimad Rajchandra: A Man of Great Spirituality
The world famous philosopher Khalil Gibran said: 'Make the heart like a mighty cedar. Even if the branches break, the tree remains. It can grow again and gain new strength. If Indian culture, religion and philosophy is like a beautiful dense forest, then the Jains are the mighty cedars growing in it, because Jainism is perennial, able to renew itself again and again. After some period of a religion lying fallow, a great man always rises up and kindles a new light on the horizon, and brings a new vigour to it. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, one such man rose like a mighty cedar. He left an indelible impression on me. Shrimad Rajchandra lit up the horizon and became a symbol for the devotion of thousands of people. This great personality of the spiritual world brought such an aura of radiance to the age, that the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was inspired by him and regarded him as his spiritual guru. This Jain layman,
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