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BHĀNUCANDRA CARITRA
respected by him to attend the ceremony. To the accompaniment of the royal band, attended by the officers of the four-fold army (Infantry, Cavalry, Elephants, ChariotsArtillery) surrounded by feudatory chiefs walking on foot, the Emperor went to attend the ceremony. Thānasimha together with others performed the ceremony (in honour of Lord Supārsvanātha-Hirasūri Rāsa). Both Akbar and Salim stood in front of the Jina idol and listened to the recitation of Bhaktāmara-stotra (a sacred hymn in Sanskrit by Mánatunga Sūri in honour of Adinātha Jina. It begins with the word “ Bhaklumara" hence it is called by that name) by the master. The ceremony over, the Emperor stepped into the outer Court (ranga–mandapa) and stood there in front of the master. Salim stood near him. Thānasimha presented elephants and horses to the Emperor. Mantri Karmacandra followed suit, and presented to the heir apparent a pearl necklace worth thirteen hundred gold mohrs. Other members of the Jaina community also showered presents of gold ornaments and gold-embroidered cloths. Then the Emperor took some snātra-water from the gold pot and reverently applied it to his eyes and passed the rest to the harem. He then made gifts of gold mohrs to all and permitted by the monk returned to his palace. From that time onwards the Emperor and his son were blessed
Salim stood neandra followed sunt bes. Other ne
with added happilace. From that suits of gold mo
Once the Emperor, surrounded by feudatory princes, was sitting in the Court, while the monk was explaining to him some of his difficulties. Impressed with his mien, manner and lucidity of exposition, the Emperor asked him what the highest title in the Jaina order was. The monk replied that "Acārya” was the highest and the next in order was “Upādhyāya". On being asked which of the two titles he held, he replied that he held neither, as these titles were conferred by the head of the Order from whom he was far away. Then the Emperor repeatedly and pressingly announced that he conferred upon him the title “ Acārya". Bhānucandra politely told the Emperor that he was not yet fit to hold that title, the only person deservedly holding it at the time being Hira-Vijaya Sūri. The Emperor was more than ever convinced of his selflessness and praised him in glowing terms. (178)
On the following day Abul Fazl advised the Emperor to confer on the monk the title “Upadhyāya". With festive preparations a foot, the Saikh himself rapaired to the upăs'raya and informed the Jaina laity which had assembled there that it was
of trees and killing of fish in three rivers viz. Satlaj, Dek and Rāvi. He got captives freed from Baluchies. The King Rai Simha having shown signs of displeasure, Karamchand went to live at Merta and then to the Court of Akbar who made him his ganjadhikari-bhandări. It was at his instance that Jinacandra Suri was called by Akbar to his Court at Lahore, as is stated before at pp. 10 to 13. (Vide Jayasomas's Sanskrit and Guņavinaya's Gujarāti Karmacandraprabandha, Umrao Singh Tank's Some Distinguished Jains-The rise and fall of the
Bacchāvats', my History of Jaina Literature, and Nähta's Yugapradhāna Jinacandra Sūri). 39 Vide Hirasūri Rāsa (in Gujarati) P. 183 verses 38 to 45, wherein Sekhji is misprinted
for Sekhuji, and Mänsimha referred to is not Sadhu Münasimha pupil of Kharatara Jinacandra Süri but he is a s'ravaka by name Mānasimha Kalyāņa of Tapā Gaccha. Vide also "Karmacandra Mantri Prabandha" (in Gujarati) dhāla 8, and "Karmacandra Vans'otkirlanakam Karyam" in Sanskrit, verses 358 to 364, in respect of the Snātra-Mahotsava.
