Book Title: Jainism The Cosmic Vision
Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London

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Page 182
________________ A Journey of Ahimsa for one and all. The grandson of Ashoka was Samprati, who occupies a pride of place among great kings. There was a great joy on his face after his victory in war, but his mother was in great sadness. She told him that it would have been better if he had built temples to purify souls than having fought war and such an act would have made her happy. Emperor Samprati built Jain temple to respect his mother's wishes. Acharya Haribhadrasuri, in a fit of rage, contempleted the destruction of his opponents - the guru and his disciples - as his own disciples were killed. He was about to kill 1444 people when Yakini Mahattara persuaded him not to indulge in any violent act. His anger then turned into forgiveness. Instead of killing 1444 persons, he composed 1444 volumes which reflected the synthesis of diverse philosophies and this attracted the attention of the contemporary historian Abul Fazal of the Moghul period. Moghul Emperor Akbar, born in the year 1542 did deeds which reflected his non-violent spirit. He got acquainted with Jain religion and non-violence in peculiar circumstances. Champa, an ordinary householder, had fasted for six months and her procession aroused Akbar's curiosity. In the beginning, he was not ready to believe that a person could survive on boiled water for six months, without any food. He tested her and Champa came through successfully and Akbar was curious to know more about Jainism. He invited Acharya Hirvijaysurishwarji to his court. Acharya, set out from Gandhar port on the 7th day of Margshish Sud in Samvat 1638 and reached Fatehpur Sikri on Friday, Jyestha Vad 13th, of Vikram Samvat 1639. Emperor Akbar got up from his seat on seeing the Acharya and welcomed him and the three princes Shaikh Salim, Murad 165 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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