MAHAMATYA SAHU NANU

MAHAMATYA SAHU NANU
Nanu son of Sahu Roopchandra Godha, a Khandelwal Jain, was the most trusted Mahamatya and Minister of Raja Man Singh of Amer, who was governor of Bengal-Bihar and Orissa appointed by Emperor Akbar. Sahu Nanu was very handsome, rich and prosperous person having a very simple heart. A great devotee of Jain Tirthankaras he constructed 20 small temples (Tonks) on various hill spots in Sammed Shikharji from where 20 Tirthankaras had attained salvation. He had visited the pious pilgrim place several times as leader of Sanghas. He constructed Jain temples at Champapur and other places. The Adinath Jain Temple in Akbarpur, capital of Raja Man Singh in the province of Bengal- Bihar and Orissa, was also constructed by him- He gave financial support to Pt. Jai- want and other learned scholars. On the request of Sahu Nanu, Muni Jnankirtiji had come to Akbarpur, stayed in Adinath Jain Temple there and composed the Sanskrit poetic work Yoshodhar Charitra in 1602. Sahu Nathu, presumably younger brother or son of Sahu Nanu, got a copy of this work prepared in 1604 and presented that to Bhat- tarak Shubhchandra. On settling back at his native place Sahu Nanu constructed a big and artistic Jain temple at Mozmabad, near Amer. Its Pratistha ceremoney was attended by large number of Jains from distant places. It is believed that Sahu Thakur and his son Tejpal were his blood relatives and had got prepared a valuable copy of Jashar Chariu of Acharya Pushpdant in 1590, containing 71 artistic paintings, in the Nemi- nath Jain Temple of Amer.