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point. I then started collecting materials for the subject; and though it took abnormally long to write out the book, the result of my studies is now before the reader.
I have taken particular care to mention only those events of the Saint's life which can be proved historically. I have included only those incidents which are attested both by the Jain and the non-Jain writers. This contact between the Jain saints and the Mogul Emperors had not stopped at Akbar; it continued in the days of Jehangir, Shahajahan, Muradbaksha, Aurangzeb and Azamshah. These Emperors had issued several farmans. Most of them are already published. I, however, was fortunate to come across six new farmans, out of which I have appended to this volume five farmans, with their English translation; the sixth being completely unreadable had to be omitted.
I was not able to get any portrait of the Saint Hirvijaysuri. But during my itinerary I had once seen an image of the Saint, at Mahuva in Kathiawad. I prefix a photogravure of this image to this book. The image has a short inscription below it, which reads thus :
१६५३ पातसाहि श्री अकबरप्रवर्तित स ४२ वर्षे फा. सुदि ८ दिने श्रीस्तंभतीर्थवास्तव्य श्री. पउभा (भा.) पांची नाम्यना श्रीहीरविजयसूरीश्वराणां मूर्तिः का. प्र. तपागछे (च्छे) श्रीविजयसेनसरिभिः।
This shows that in the second year after the Saint Hirvijaysuri passed away, a Jain named Pauma and his wife Panchi, residents of Khambhat, had established the image and its installation-ceremony was performed by Vijaysensuri.
There are two more pictures reproduced here -one of Akbar and another of Abul Fazl. Both these were sent to my revered Guru Vijay dharmasuri, by Dr. F. W. Thomas, for which I have to thank him heartily.
In preparing this work I have derived valuable help from Muniraj Indravijayji. I cannot thank him enough, for without his sincere help it would have been impossible to write ;his book.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
