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MAHAMANTRI PETHADSHAH
T et us go back in the past. It was the first half of the
U fourteenth century of the Vikram Era. There was not a single Jain temple in the capital city of Devagiri in the south. Hence Pethadshah wanted to erect a Jain temple there. It was necessary to get permission of King Ramadeo and his minister Hemadri for this purpose.
In order to be in the good books of the royal minister, Pethadshah opened a free boarding centre in the city of Omkarpur. Visitors from far-off places were given free food at this centre. The centre was named after the royal minister.
Hemadri heard of this centre and so one day he visited it. He learned that the centre had been started some three years back by Pethadshah, who had already spent large sums of money over its maintenance.
Hemadri wondered why his name was associated with the centre. He was, therefore, eager to see the man who was so generous. He went to see that minister of Malva and called upon him. Pethadshah asked the visitor to grant him land in order to build a temple in the city of Devagiri.
