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BHĀNUCANDRA CARITRA
He requested him to visit the Court everyday and instructed the gate-keeper to see that all facilities were given to the monk to come and see him without let or hindrance. Accordingly Bhānucandra used to pay daily visits to the court where he was received with honour.
Saikh (Abul Fazl) expressed his desire to study under him “Şad-dars'anoSamuccaya" (A treatise expounding the six Systems of Philosophy, compiled by Haribhadra Süri, a commentary upon which is written by Gunaratna Sûri. Read paragraphs 217 and 672 of my "Short History of Jaina Literature"). Bhānucandra readily agreed to do so. Abul Fazl always made notes of what the monk taught him. Attachment between them grew very much on account of this.
Upādhyāya Sānticandra realizing that his further stay at the Court served no useful purpose, approached the Saikh and requested him to procure royal permisson for his departure. The Emperor granted the permission but instructed the Saikh to inform śānticandra that Bhānucandra's presence at the Court was desired by him. Accordingly he departed for Gujarat" (65).
During his stay at the Court Bhānucandra distinguished himself for his extraordinary intellectual attainments. Once upon a time the Emperor asked the Brāhmins to enumerate to him one thousand names of the Sun. The Brāhmins failed in the attempt; fortunately for them, however, a highly talented person did the work for them. Then they submitted the compilation to the Emperor. With great delight at the attainment of his desire, the Emperor asked them who was competent enough to explain to him the significance of those names. The Brāhmins replied that only that person was fit to do it, who had subdued his passions, who slept on the ground and who led a celebate life. Thereupon the Emperor told Bhānucandra that only he possessed those qualifications and requested him to read to and teach him those names every morning (71).
It was the Emperor's habit to get out of bed at early dawn. Arraying himself in royal robes, he used to occupy the royal chair (simhasana) placed in the centre of the royal Court on a raised platform. The magnificence of Akbar's Court beggars description. With musical instruments playing sweet melodies, with gate-keepers and door-keepers in their liveries standing at their proper places, with a row of feudatory princes paying their respects to His Majesty, with numerous courtiers bustling hither and thither, with singers and dancers and wrestlers vying with one another to please His Majesty and to stand in his favour, with attendants carrying boxes of jewels and other valuables sent as presents to His Majesty by kings and governors from various parts
32 In Hira-Saubhagya-Kävya-Ch. 14 versess 270 and 271 it is stated that sånticandra
approached Akbar and said that he would ask Bhanucandra to stay at the Court at Fatehpuri and requested him to grant him permission to depart because he wanted to be by the side of Hira-Vijaya Sūri. The Emperor granted him permission to go and gave him firman set with his own seal, abolishing Jazia tax and prohibiting animal-slaughter, in appreciation of his having daily heard from him Kopā-rasa-Kośa composed by him at the instance of HirsVijaya Suri". For further details see before at pp. 8 and 9.
