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Šramaņa, Vol 58, No. 2-3/April-September 2007
married life, giving many instances to prove the futility of life that the position of householder is the highest, because the very existence of others depends upon it. Jahangir further told him, "In this world you are leading a miserable life. Your life in the next world will be more miserable, because you are intent transgressing the path prescribed by God. "201
Siddhicandra promptly replied that to deviate from his vow is an action of a coward. The Emperor, thereupon, become angry, and ordering a vicious elephant to be brought up, put before the monk, and told- either he should accept a wife with lands and wealth or be trampled to death by the furious animal. But, to the astonishment of all , the monk stood firm, calmly facing imminent destruction.21 This incident is supported by 'Vijayatilaka-rāsa-adhikāra', Sri Yugapradhāna-nirvāna-rāsa' and other Jaina works, as remaining firm at Jahangir's order, even under the threat of being trampled under the feet of an elephant. At last, Jahangir, seeing his firmness ordered that he should retire to a forest for disobeying the Imperial wishes. Siddhicandra, therefore, left the court and went to Malpur in Jaipur state.22
Akbar had given the royal patronage to Tapāgaccha and to the Sūris of the Kharataragaccha. Jinacandra Sūri was given thc title of 'Yuga Pradhāna'. This was also followed by Jahangir. In 1612 AD, Jahangir was incensed at the misconduct of a Darshani (Monk): and in a fit of passion, not only had him expelled, but ordered all the Jaina-monks to be banished from his realm. In this crisis, the Jainasamgha of Agra requested their religious head, Jinacandra Sūri to come to Agra and intercede with the emperor. Sūri came and discoursed before the emperor, and ultimately, Jahangir with drew his orders.23 This incident is supported by Jaina literary sources and by an inscription dated 1619 AD, in a temple on the hill Satruñjaya, in which after referring to Jinacandra's influence on Akbar, it adds : "He appeased the angry Jahangir and protected the Sādhus banished
by him. "24
