________________
PALITTA-SURI & PALITANA.
13456664665456456456456
Palitta-suri is definitely connected with the foundation of the Palitana City. The etymological connection between the two has been discussed under heading "Palitana and Vira-stuti". The city has an existence only in connection with "Shatrunjaya Hill” the holiest of the jain places of pilgrimage. It is situated in the vicinity of the Hill. The tradition is that for about 55 years from S. Y. 53 to S. Y. 108 the hill remained unvisited because of the presiding deity Kapardi Yaksha having taken to harassing I visitors and making the place impassable and impure by heaping up bones and skeletons of animals. Vajra-12 swami performed the Re-installation ceremony of Lord Rishabhadeva on the hill in or about S. Y. 108, 1 Javadasha being the donor and Sanghapati on the occasion. Palitana City also probably came to be founded in the very year or immediately thereafter in one of the customary visits Padliptasuri paid to Shatrunjaya.
Prabhavaka Charitra" mentions that he died a Yaugic death on the very hill. In the life of Vajraswami who died in 58 A. D. (S. Y. 114) there is mention of migration from Gujarat Southwards owing to famine, bnt there is no such mention in Padlipta's life. He is definitely connected with King Hala of| Shalivahana Dynasty, author of "Gatha Saptashati" as already shown. Hala ruled from 49 A. D. to 54 A. D. The various biographies of Padlipta do not mention Padlipta having heard of Hala's death. 11% therefore think that Padlipta must have died immediately after the foundation of Palitana i.e. in 52 or 53 A. D. No doubt this presupposes a very long life of 109 years, if we fix the birth of Padlipta in 470 Vira
4 N. K.
Jan Education interne
For Private & Personal Use Only
wwjainelibrary.org
