________________
CHAPTER SEVENTH.
RELATIONS WITH GOVERNORS.
W e have now fully seen how Hirvijaysuri created a deep impression on the mind of Akbar and how he made Akbar do many deeds of piety, etc. The Suri had equally well impressed the various provincial governors of the Emperor. We shall here narrate some incidents only.
KALAKHAN.
In A. D. 1574 when Suriji came to Patan for the chief festival of Vijaysensuri, a minister named Hemraj had spent much wealth for the same. At that time the governor at Patan was Kalakhan. He was tyrranous. He came to know of the sermons delivered by the Suri. He invited the Suri to see him. Suriji went to him. Kalakhan asked him whether the Sun was higher or the Moon, Suriji said that the Moon was higher and the Sun was somewhat lower than the Moon. Kalakhan was surprised to hear this and asked the Suri the authority on which he said like that. The Suri said that he was not omniscient; nor had he gone to the regions of the Sun and the Moon; but he was taught like that by his Gurus and by his scriptures, and he was not in the habit of doubting the Guru or the scriptures particularly in matters which were beyond man's direct perception.
Kalakhan saw the force of this and agreed that in certain matters men must put implicit faith in Guru and scriptures. He then asked him if he wanted anything. Suriji asked him to release those prisoners whom he had punished to be hanged. Kalakhan did this and also ordered non-killing for one month throughout the city. This had happened before Suriji came in contact with Akbar.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
