Temple of Satrunjaya

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 49

lotus of whose mind was expanded by the Sun-like discourse (of the Suris)...the Moon of the lotus celebrated in all countries, of merits worthy of the faithful, with a mind devoted to the Arhantas, proved another Srenika Raja.85
The Chiefs of the Lumpakas 86 including Meghaji Rsi, etc. leaving wicked ways, daily approached the feet (of Rsabhadeva), as the black bee does the louts. Many excited to enthusiasm by discourses urging abstinence from worldliness, abandoned their former beliefs and entered the tapa-way. By their word, the construction of caityas was carried on in the holy land, and especially in Gurjara Desa. Large amounts were spent and many chiefs of ascetics resided at the Satrunjaya Mountain with Sanghas from the great realms of Gurjara and Malava.
Vijayasena flourished, a Moon among the chief munis, a glorifier of the sea-like genealogical table, by his discourses the remover of all ignorance, whose humility shincs brilliantly throughout the universe, and whose accomplishments are great. The greatness of his prowess is indescribable, who deprived his opponents while living of their sleep. To form his person the lord Brahmadeva took portions of the gods,abstracting happiness from the god of Love (Kama), effulgence from the Sun, power from the lord of Parvati, accomplishments from the Moon, greatness from the supporter of the Earth (Seas) and gravity from the Ocean.
With honour was he invited by Srimat Akbar; and, as would playful geese proceed to the sweet-smelling and beautiful lotus-beds, accompanied by many wise and pious men, he resorted speedily to adorn Labhapura, famous for its assemblages of gods and resembling Amravati, the city of Indra. By his eloquence having established Arhanta, the best in the world, the Almighty, in the assembly of the Emperor Akbar, he reduced to nakedness and confusion Bhattas or chiefs of the twice-born (Brahmanas) proud of their powers of disputation. In the assembly of the prosperous Emperor Akbar, conquering the chief disputants by many and long-continued arguments, as lions overcome
85 Srenika is represented as a king of Magadha or South Bihar, whom Gautama,
the disciple of Mahavira, instructed in the Jaina doctrines, and who became their first and most famous patron. Hemacandra identifies him with Bimbisara or, as he calls him-Bhambhasara, whom the Buddhists claim as the contemporary, disciple and friend of their Gautama, and who probably flourished about 504-476 B.C. Conf. Hemacandra, Abhidhana Cintamani, 712; Max Muller, Hist. Anc.
Sanskrit Liter., pp. 296, 298; Turnour, Mahavansa, Introd. pp. xlvii-xlviii. 88 In the version of Mr. Orlebar and Vinayaka Shastri, this is rendered -"At the
exhortation of the saint, even the robber Meghaji," etc.--Jour. Bomb. Br. R. Asiat. Soc., Vol. I. p. 62.