Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 81

Vol.XXXIV, 2011
Jinaprabha's account on Mathura in Vividha tirtha kalpa
71
Tagalakh reigned in 1407 to 1444 Vk.S. while Mohammad Tagalakh ascended the throne in 1381 and ruled up to 1407 of VK.S.", therefore it is possible that Jinaprabha existed during these both Sultans.
The story of Vijay Yantra12 is mentioned in Prabandha' of Somdharmagani. As per the Katha, once Sulatana asked Suriji to show some magical power for achieving success in all fields. Accordingly Jinaprabha prepared the Vijaya Raj Yantra. The Sultan wanted to test its power, so he made a goat wear it on the neck and tried to wound her but surprisingly she didn't get hurt at all, as the Vijay Yantra had given her protection. The king tried a second confirmatory test of the same Yantra on another animal pair a cat and a mouse. A mouse was kept below the open umbrella with a Yantra on top and a cat was free near the Chhatra. The cat ran around but couldn't enter in the protected area. The Sulatana was impressed and donated a place for Jaina shrine and Dharmashala near his palace. As well as he returned the jewel studded image of Tirthankara Mahavira looted by his Sardar from Kannanur in Karnataka. Later on, Vira Vihar and Bhattaraka Sarai was constructed on his request. An auspicious welcome was given to Suriji by Jaina Sangha and he inaugurated the temple and Sarai on Ashadha vadi Saptami in the year 1389 Vk.S. at Delhi. During this period he had renovated Mathura shrine as per reference given in Rasa 'Nabhinandanoddhar Prabandha"* and V. T. kalp. From Mathura Suriji travelled with Chaturvidha samgha to Hastinapur where he established Jina images of Kunthunath, Shantinath and Aranath. The king proclaimed mnay Faramanas to protect Jaina shrines in his region. Jinaprabha suri worked hard for the rise of Jainism. There is one beautiful painting showing the meeting of king Mahammad Shah and Guruji, painted after 150 years of his visit with Royal personagels,
The work on V. T. Kalpa started with the journey from the sacred Tirtha Shatrunjaya, on Friday in the month of Maha in the year 1385 of Vk.S. The Tagalakh Sulatan became happy with the start of the journey on the auspicious day Le. Friday, seeing his happiness Suriji also named this Kalp as "Rajaprasada". He completed the same in the year 1389 Bhadarva vada Dashami at Delhi. It is a collection of narration on selected sacred Jaina Tirthas like Shatrunjaya, Giranara, Khambata, Ahicchatra, Abu, Mathura, Bharuch, Vaibhargiri, Koshambi, Kalikunda, Kannanur, Nasik, Pratisthan-Pattan/Pethan etc. thrity eight places visited by Suriji and his disciples. Besides this detailed account of tirthas he also mentions the Ganadharas of Mahavira, Yaksa-Yaksi of those Tirthas and life sketches of Vastupal-Tejapal. Here we will discuss only the ninth chapter 'Mathurapuri Kalp'. This Kalp is also described in 'Abhidhan Rajendra kosh' part-3, pp 212-215.
The Kalpa starts with adoration of the seventh Jina Suparsvanatha and 23rd Parsvanatha for Mangal of all Jivas". Here before beginning Mathura Puri Kalpa, the author had worshipped seventh and twenty third both Jinas, so one can assume that at Mathura's stupa previously Jina Suparsva was Mulanayak and later on both