Monk and Monarch

Author(s): Vidyavijay
Publisher: Deepchand Banthia

Page 82

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Tapagachha at the hands of Suriji. When this was known to others, thirty other Sadhus of Lonkamat resolved to be initiated into Tapagachha. All these were initiated with great pomp and festivity. Meghji was named Udyotvijay. He was initiated in V. S. 1628. Chief amongst the other thirty were Bhojo, Shrivant, Nakar, Ladan, Gango, Gano, Madhav and Vir.
These initiations added immensely to the prestige of the Gachha,
In V. S. 1631 when Suriji was at Khambhat, eleven men were initiated at a time. It happened like this. There was a great merchant called Abhayraj at Div. He had a daughter named Ganga. She used to study under one Jain nun. After some time she wished to become a nun herself, and she declared her desire to her mother. Her mother resolved to be a nun herself. So her father and a young brother named Meghkumar also resolved to become Sadhus. Her aunt also resolved to do so. Along with this family, its four musicians also resolved to be initiated. All these were initiated at the hands of Suriji under a Rayan-tree near the Amba?4 lake at Kansaripur.25
Seeing nine men being initiated at a time, a man of Shrimali caste, by name Nana Nagji, also resolved to be initiated. He was named Bhanvijay.
Once Ratnapal of Khambhat had promised the Suri that he would give his son Ramji to him if he was saved from the disease from which he was suffering. He had not given away his boy to the Suri. But that boy Ramji knew this and wished to be a Sadhu. He requested this Nana Nagji or Bhanvijay to get himself initiated. Then Ramji was removed to Piploi, and there he was initiated at the hands of a Panyas.
Thus eleven men became initiated at a time.
Once Suriji had initiated 18 men together.
There was a man named Gopalji in Viramgam. His grandfather was a 'Vajir' named Virji Malik. He was very rich and always moved about with five hundred horsemen waiting