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126 : Śramaņa, Vol 58, No. 1/January-March 2007
Tīrthankaras that Tarsum Khan had seized at Sirohi in 1577. On his personal request, the Emperor ordered the Governor of Gujarat for the protection of Jaina temples and places of pilgrimage in that province was also complied with.!? After returning from Kashmir, in 1593, Akbar conferred on him the high sounding title of 'Yugapradhāna' (Lord of the age). This occasion was celebrated with pomp. 18 An inscription in a temple on Shatrunjaya hill confirms the grant of this title and the concession made by this farman." It is also surprising that the name of Jinachandra Suri is not mentioned in the list of scholars and saints of Akbar's reign in the Aine Akbari. 20
It seems that the triumph and influence of Khartara Gachha in the Mughal court was not relished by his principal pontiff of rival Tapā Gachha. That is why Hira Vijaya Suri deputed his ablest disciple Vijaya Sen Suri. It was expected that he will re-establish the sect in the estimation of Akbar. He was not a good organizer, but under his inspiration a series of Jaina temples was built. According to the instruction of his Guru he set out for Lahore accompanied by 100 Monks. He reached Lahore in 1593, May 31 and was cordially received by the Emperor.21 He stayed in the Mughal court for two years, and must have held many discussions with Akbar. Akbar was impressed and he conferred him the title of 'Kali Saraswati 22
It is said that the influence greatly exercised by the Jaina monks made the Brahmins jealous. Therefore, they with the help of Raja Ramdas of Amber charged them with disbelief in God. At last this problem was to be solved under the auspices of Abul Fazl and the Jaina Ācārya. They made it clear that the Jaina conception of Godhood was like the one expounded in the famous Sāṁkhya philosophy of Hindus.23 One of the disciples of Vijaya Sen Suri was Nandi Vijaya, who was given the title of 'Khush-Faham'.24 Due to the serious illness of his guru, Vijaya Sen Suri, Nandi Vijaya had to leave the royal court. But, before leaving the court he was
