________________
INTRODUCTION.
35
achieving their aim. Ttmaster came to know of this. He then immediately took the learned Saikh into his confidence and told him that the Kharataras were devising ways of taking possession of the sacred Mount Pundaţika (another name of Satrunjaya) which really belonged to his group (Tapās). As however, the Emperor unexpectedly issued orders for forward march, the matter was postponed for some opportune time in future. The Emperor, efter crossing Mounts Ratna-Panjāla, Pira-Panjāla" and others, reached Srinagar (the capital of Kāśmir). On Sunday, as was his wont, the Emperor heard the recital and the explanations of the names of the Sun, by the master. The recital being over, the master gently touched upon the subject of Satrunjaya, which was the most prominent in his mind. He told the Emperor that there was a sacred place of the Jaicas, Satrunjaya by name, in Saurāştra,43 to which Hira Sūri intended to go on a pilgricage, and that a tax was levied from pilgrims to that holy place. He further said that h: and the whole Jaina community would be highly obliged if the Emperor kindly issued a firmān abolishing the tax. Hearing this the Emperor told Samsudin," the eldest s:n of Khăn Azam that no tax was to be levied from either the revered Acārya Hiri-Vijaya Sūri or from any member of the Jaina laity when
42 Pira-Panjala:-"āśmir is encompassed on all sides by the Himalayan ranges: Twenty six
different roads lea 1 from it to Hindustan; but of these, those by Bhimbhar, (Chibhän) and Pakli are the bes: and can generally be travelled through on horse-back. The former is the shortest and it has several routes of which three are good: (1) Hasti Bhani (Hasti Watar) which wa: the former route for the murch of the troops; (2) Pir Panjäl which his Majesty thrice tra Tersed on his way to the rose garden of Kāśmir. If on these hills an ox or a horse be killed, sorm clouds and wind arise together with snowfall and rain; and (3) Tang Talah" Aini Akbari II, p. 347-348 (Jarrett). In a note on p. 348 it is stated :“Pir Panjäl has cc ne to mean the pass of the Great Range, Panjal being applied to a great Moutain Ridge". The Ratnapanjal may be another name of either Hastibhanj or of Tangtalah, or it may be
the name of an altogether different route. 43 The Sarkar of Sorath :-"It was an independent territory, having a force of 50,000 cavalry,
and 100,000 infan:ry, the ruling tribe being Ghelot (Gohils). Its length from port of Ghogah (Gogo) to that of Arāmral (Amreli?) is 125 Kos; its breadth from Sardhār to the seaport of Div, is 72 Kos. Or the east it is bounded by Ahmedabād; on the North, by the State of Cutch, on the South and "Vest, by the Indian Ocean. Its climate is healthy; its fruits and flowers numerous. Grapes and melons grow lucrc. This territory is divided into 9 districts each inhabited by a different tribe. They are also called Paraganas and their names are: (1) New Sorath (unagadh and others); (3) Old Sorath, called Nägher (Pattan Somnath and others ); (3, Gohilwărah (Lathi and others); (4) Wálók (Mahuvâh and Talaja); (5) Bädhelah(Vashers) (Jagat called Dwarkā eto.); (6) Barra (Barda) (Barra Gumli etc); (7) Baghelah (Saudhir etc); (8) Wagi (in the uncultivated traots of Jhanjhmer; and (9) Timbel Tribe" Aini Akbari II, p. 244. “In the third dis :ict at the foot of the Satrunjah (Satrunjaya) Hill is a large fort on its summit, the fort of Palitanah. Though in ruins, it deserves restoration. It is in great
veneration with tŁ: Jains" (Ibid p. 247). 44 Samsuddin :-"I A. D. 1600, owing to the death of Sultan Murad, Mirza Aziz Kokaltāsu
(Khān-i-Azam-rea: foot note no. 34) was third time appointed Viceroy of Gujarat and he sent Shamsud-din Hussain as his deputy to Ahmedābād".-History of Gujarat Bom. Gaze. p. 273. " Azamkhăn's eldest son was Mirza Shamsi (the said Shamsuddin) who was at the end of Akbar's reign, a commander of Two thousand" (no. 163 Aini Akbari I, p. 325).
