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Jagdusha, a renowned philanthropist and devout practitioner of nonviolence, encountered a perilous situation when his ship became stranded near the Saurashtra coastline in the south. According to beliefs, the ship would be destroyed if the gaze of a particular goddess fell upon it. Worried about the potential curse, Jagdusha visited the temple and observed a three-day fast to appease the goddess. Pleased with his devotion, the deity instructed him to sacrifice 108 buffaloes on the temple's steps to prevent shipwrecks.
The following day, Jagdusha brought 106 buffaloes and positioned himself on the first step, placing his adopted son on the second step. However, when he attempted to execute the sacrifice, an unseen force prevented him from doing so. The goddess was pleased with Jagdusha's compassion for living beings and his courage. As a result, she ordered the temple's face, initially facing south, to be turned towards the north, and thus the ship destruction ceased. Today, centuries later, people still worship the goddess, as well as Jagdusha and his son, in the temple located in the mountains of Koyala in Saurashtra.
Jagdusha's father, Solshah, had migrated from Kutch and settled in Bhadreshwar. One day, Solshah entrusted Jagdusha with the responsibility of managing the shop while he attended to an important task. During winter, a group of monks visited the shop, seeking blankets. Jagdusha discovered around two hundred blankets in the warehouse and generously distributed them among the monks. This act of generosity astonished everyone, including his father.
Solshah remarked, "Jagdusha, your kind gesture pleases me, but I believe it may not have been wise to distribute all two hundred blankets."
Jagdusha replied politely, "Father, despite wearing three layers of warm clothing, you and I still feel the cold. Now consider the monks, who were barely clothed. Besides, we have an abundance of wealth in our coffers!" His father was overjoyed.
After his father's passing, Jagdusha inherited the family business. During that time, Bhadreshwar was under the rule of Bhimdev, who had lost his grip on the kingdom. Pithadev, the king of Tharparkar, invaded Bhadreshwar. In response, Jagdusha constructed a fort to safeguard the city. He embarked on pilgrimages to Shatrunjaya and Girnar Tirth, while also building numerous temples and even a mosque for visiting Muslims.
In the year 1255, Jagdusha attended a discourse on charity delivered by Acharya Paramdevsuri. After the discourse, the Acharya approached Jagdusha privately and said, "You are about to face a true test of your philanthropy. A three-year famine is imminent. Stockpile as much grain as possible to save lives. Seize this opportunity to serve the people."
Following the Acharya's instructions, Jagdusha began amassing grains from all directions. The granaries overflowed, and the words inscribed on them read, "These grains are for the poor – Jagdusha." From 1257 to 1259, three consecutive famines occurred. Jagdusha dispatched grains to the kings of Gujarat, Sindh, Mewad, Malwa, Kashi, Delhi, and Kandhar. He established 115 community kitchens, feeding approximately five hundred thousand people. Vast quantities of grain were distributed free of charge, amounting to an expenditure of around Rs. 4 crore. His efforts earned him the title of "Savior of Mankind" from kings and emperors.
Jagdusha is rightfully remembered as a remarkable philanthropist but his this great story is been misplaced.
