________________
41
anxious to have authority or greatness, must make the king a tool in his hands, and he who wanted to have his religion spread must convert the king to his own belief. It is no wonder then if Hemac'andra wished to have an ability to please kings
Seeing that Sonac'andra was full of ability, Dévac'andra Sūri desired to give him the leadership of the Gac'cha Calling the Jaina society and consulting them, Dévac'andra Sûri gave Āc'ārya-ship to Somac'andra at Nagpur (Nāgor) in the year V. S. 1162 and was then named as Hémac'andra Sūri. Being overwhelmed with joy at the highest honour conferred on her son Pāhini, also accepted Jaina diksā Hémac'andra on his part, entreated the Guru to confer on his mother at that very time the degree of 'Pravartini.'
The reputation of Hémac'andra steadity spread upto the extremities of all the directions His scholarship was praised in the royal assemblies of Siddharāja Jayasingh. Once, the Quru travelled to Anahillapar Pāțaga. Siddharja going to the royal garden met him on the way. Seeing the Quru the King ordered that his elephant should be kept there and then he asked the Quru, "Have you anything to say ? The Curu said in befitting and proper terms, "Oh Siddharaja let your elephant be driven farther without any doubt. Let the elephants supporting the directions, be worried. What of that I None except you has held this earth." Siddharâja was highly pleased with such verse of praises, and requested the Quru to go everyday to him to relate him religious-myths.
Then Siddharāja invaded Mālavă Country. After the lapse of years he won a victory in 1192 When he returned to his capital, the priests of all the philosophies conferred their blessings on him. The king was greatly delighted at the following verse of blessings of Hémac'andrāc'ārya.
The meaning of the Sanskrit verse
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
