Jahangir’s Relations with the Jains
By K. P. Mitra
Summary
The article investigates Emperor Jahangir’s relations with the Jain community by examining verses from Jain epics, hagiographies and contemporary Persian sources. It opens with excerpts from the Sriyuga-pradhana-nirvana-rasa and other Jain poems that recount an incident early in Jahangir’s reign when a Jain monk misbehaved during an audience. In response, the emperor expelled Jain monks from his court and imposed restrictions on their movements. Jain tradition attributes the incident to the Tapagaccha sect, though the author notes that the offending monk’s sect is uncertain and the Tapagaccha literature also mentions the episode. The Jain leader Jinachandra approached Jahangir and argued that the entire community should not be punished for one individual’s misconduct. The emperor then rescinded the order and allowed the monks to return. The article cites verses describing the emperor calling the incident a serious offence but ultimately showing clemency. Another section discusses the career of Jinasimhasuri (also called Manasimha or Yugapradhana Suri), a disciple of Acharya Jinachandra. Jain accounts praise him for his influence over Akbar and Jahangir. According to the Yugapradhana-suri-carita and other texts, Jahangir honoured Jinasimhasuri, sending Mukarrab Khan to confer on him the title Yugapradhana. He later summoned the monk to Agra but Jinasimhasuri fell ill and died at Merta in 1617. The article compares this narrative with Persian chronicles of Khusrau’s rebellion that mention a Mansingh whose prophecies led Jahangir to suspect him of treason; this Mansingh took poison to avoid arrest. The author argues that the Mansingh of Persian history is not the same as the Jain monk and that only the monk’s followers were expelled, not all Jains. The article also recounts Jahangir’s meeting at Mandu with Vijayadevasuri, a Jain scholar from Cambay. Invited by a royal farman, Vijayadeva delivered a sermon in the palace gallery. Jahangir conferred on him the honorific Mahatapa, acknowledging his learning and ascetic merit. Verses from the Vijayadeva-mahatmya describe the emperor listening to the discourse and bestowing gifts. The article thus paints a nuanced picture of Jahangir’s engagement with Jainism: while he could act sternly when offended, he also respected Jain scholars, granted titles and allowed them to travel and preach. These interactions illustrate the complexity of Mughal religious policy, which combined enforcement of order with personal curiosity about diverse traditions.
Conclusion
The article concludes that Jahangir’s relations with the Jains were marked by both friction and respect. A single monk’s misconduct led to temporary sanctions, but intercession by Jain leaders persuaded the emperor to moderate his response. Jahangir conferred titles on esteemed monks like Jinasimhasuri and Vijayadevasuri and invited them to his court to expound their doctrines. Confusion between the names of Jain monks and contemporary nobles in Persian sources has led to misunderstandings about these events. Overall, Jahangir emerges as a ruler who, despite occasional severity, maintained a largely tolerant and inquisitive stance towards Jainism.