________________
Abu-1-Fazal relates that at the end of September, or early in October, 1578 the discussions in the Ibadat-khāna were carried on by the representatives of many creeds. 'Süfi philosopher, orator, jurist, Sunni, Shia, Brahman, Jati Siūra, Chārbåk, Nazarene, Jew, Şātri (Satran), Zoroastrian, and others enjoyed exquisite pleasure' (Vol. III, Chap. xlv, p. 365 of Beveridge's version). The words Jati and Siūra, which of corse refer to Svetāmbara Jains, were mistranslated by Chalmers, as Jains, Buddhists'. That error, having been adopted by Elliot and Dowson (Vol. VI, p. 59), misled von Noer, who drew the erroneous inference that 'it may be concluded with not too slight probability that there were Buddhists at Fathpur' (transl. Beveridge, I. 327, note). In reality, there is not a particle of evidence that any Buddhist ever attended the debates, or that Akbar acquired even the slightest knowledge of Buddhism. Abu-l-Fazl himself knew little about the subject, because he could not find anybody in India competent to teach him. He says expressly: - 'For a long time past scarcely any trace of them (Buddhist monks) has existed in Hindustan, but they are found in Pegu, Tenasserim, and Tibet. The third time that the writer accompanied His Majesty to the delightful valley of Kashmir (scil. A.D. 1597), he met with a few old men of this persuasion, but saw none among the learned.' It thus appears that Akbar never had an opportunity of meeting any learned Buddhists, and that no Buddhists took part or could have taken part in the discussions at Fathpur-Sikri.
But the Jain holy men undoubtedly gave Akbar prolonged instruction for years, which largely influenced his actions; and they secured his assent to their doctrines so far that he was reputed to have been converted to Jainism. The correct name of the Jain who understood the mysteries of both worlds' was Hiravijaya Sūri, and the names of the two teachers mentioned by AbuI Fazl as 'understanding sciences resting on testimony (nakl)', such as religious law, traditions, and history, were Vijayasen Súri, and Bhānucandra Upadhyāya.
We will now briefly discuss the relations of these three teachers with Akbar.
Hiravijaya
Hiravijaya, the most distinguished of Akbar's Jain instructors, who was credited with the conversion of the emperor, was born in Samvat 1583 - A.D. 1526-7, at Palanpur (Prahladan Patan), an ancient town in Gujarat. At the age of 13 (A.D. 1539), he took up the religious life under the guidance
JAH Y511 HHQ-ATE, 2005
C
-
91
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
