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BHĀNUCANDRA CARITRA
in working against Vijayadeva Sūri. (Vide Vijayatilaka Suri Räsa Adhikāra 1, composed by Darśanavijaya in S. Y. 1679 Mārgasirşa Vadi 8th at Burbānpur).
According to the other account, at Māndu Emperor Jahāngir asked the local leading Jaina Candrapāla to call Vijayadeva Sūri. The Sūri was passing the monsoon at Cambay and on receipt of the invitation started for Māndu and reached it on Aśvina Sukla 13th S. Y. 1673 (Gujarāti while Hindi S. Y. 1674 corresponding with English date 2-10-1617 Thursday). The next day the interview took place. The Emperor received him with due respect, and being pleased with the Sūri's strong body despite his severe austerities, gave him the title of Jahāngira Mahā-Tapā (i. e. a great austere man acknowledged by Jahangir). He disarmed the opposition of the Sūri's opponents and enjoined the Sanghapati Candrapāla to take the Sūri in a big procession to the accompaniment of the imperial band to his halting place. Further he declared that the Sūri was the acknowledged head-preceptor of the Jaina sangha. (Vide 17th Chapter of Vijayadeva-Mahātmyam a sanskrit versical composition by Srivallabha Upadhyāya of Kharatara gaccha. We have already mentioned about these accounts in this introduction at pages 20-21 under the heading of Vijayadeva Sūri and Nemisāgara Upadhyāya).
[Looking from a broad point of view, both the accounts are correct so far as the general facts are concerned, though each in the end prejudicially takes one-sided view. Both the Sūris were summoned after Bhānucandra was called at Māndu by the Emperor to bring about peace and amity between the two opposing parties. That Vijayadeva Súri was invested with the title Jahāngiri Mahā-Tapā', cannot be denied though the first account is totally silent on that point, as that fact is borne out by that title having been expressly engraved in the subsequent consecration-inscriptions of Vijayadeva Sūri. Both parties must have been appeased by the Emperor by sweet pursuation to the effect that the preceding Acāryas' actions be respected and they should behave towards each other properly and live peacefully and amicably. ]
It is said about Siddhicandra that once thirty two thieves at Burhānpur were on the point of being put to sword, wlien Sicilnicandra oblined an imperial firman and saved all of them from being put to death. They were released and provided with clothes; similarly many nobles were saved from punishments. Jayadasa and Appo-Lad Baniās who were sentenced to be trampled under the feet of an elephant on account of their killing an elephant wrongfully, were got released by Siddhicandra (Hira Sūri Rāsa p. 185).
In S. Y. 1690 (1633-34 A. D.) Mehājala the sanghapati led a sangha from Nādalāi on a pilgrimage to the Satrunjaya. Vijayānanda Sūri (the successor of the above Vijayatilaka Sūri on Pauşa Sukla 14th S. Y. 1676—Saturday 8th January 1620 A. D.) and Siddhicandra Upādbyāya joined the said sangha at Dholka. (see the above Vijaya-tilaka Sīri Rāsa Adhikara II composed by Darśanavijaya in S. Y. 1697 and Prācīna-tirtha-mālā-samgraha p. 106).
No information is available as to actually when Bhānucandra died but it is
