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him to abolish the tax which was then levied on Jaina pilgrims to Mount Satrunjaya. The Emperor graciously complied with his request. An imperial firmān was issued making grant of the Hill to Hīra-Vijaya Sūri, and it was despatched to him in 1592 A.D. A detailed account of Bhānucandra is given in the Sanskrit work entitled “Bhānucandra Gani Carita'' composed by his pupil Siddhicandra, which is nothing but his biography. 4. Siddhicandra
He was a favourite and talented pupil of Bhānucandra. A handsome youth and a great scholar of Sanskrit and Persian, he made a profound impression upon Akbar. he performed 108 avadhānas (i.e. attending to 108 things at a time), a marvellous feat of memory. The Emperor, much pleased and highly impressed with this, conferred upon him the title “Khush-faham” (a man of sharp intellect). He is the author of the above Bhānucandra Carita. More details about him will be found in that work which is to be published as No. 15 of singhi Jaina Series. 5. Vijayasena Sūri
During the monsoon of 1592 A.D. (S.Y. 1649 Hindi) Hīra-Vijaya Sūri was residing at Rādhanpur. It was there that he received the imperial farmān making him the grant of Mount Satrunjaya. He also received an imperial call from Lāhore, to send his pupil Vijaya-Sena Sūri there as Akbar wanted to meet him. In response to the call, he directed his pupil to start for Lāhore and to pay a visit to the Emperor there. After the monsoon was over, Vijaya-Sena (on Mārgaśīrsa Sukla 3rd S.Y. 1649 Monday 27th November 1592 A.D.) started for Lāhore and reached it on the 12th day of the bright half of Jyeștha S.Y. 1650, (Thursday 31st May 1593 A.D.). One of his pupils, Nandivijaya by name, performed eight avadhānasattending to eight things at a time. the Emperor, favourably impressed with the performance, conferred upon him the title “Khush-faham"(a man of sharp intellect).
Some non-Jainas told Akbar that the Jainas did not believe in God. Upon this, the Emperor requested Vijaya-Sena Sūri to hold a debate at his Court with the learned Brāhmins, on the subject of the existence or otherwise of God. The debate was dully conducted, and Vijayasena, quoting chapter and verse from the scriptures, marshalling facts and arguments based upon sound logic, gave a lucid exposition of the Jainaview of God, and convinced and silenced the Brahmins. On another occasion the Sūri convinced the Emperor of the necessity of prohibiton
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