Temples of Kumbhariya

SR No.: 001571
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky, U S Moorty
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 394
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Art
File Size: 34 MB

Page 70

The Temples in Kumbhāriya
25. The same author wrote a guidebook in Gujarātī entitled Arasītīrtha Arāsaņa (Kumbhāriyājī), Seth Āņandjī Kalyānjī, Amdāvād 1997, pp. 1-18, Plates 1-32, in which he has discussed the historical perspective of the tīrtha and has given full description of the temples.
Late Medieval Sources The Jaina writers in Gujarātī had used some of the late medieval sources concerning Kumbhāriyā, some of these in Sanskrit and Prakrit, consulted also by the authors of the present monograph.
1. The earliest is what has been called the “Vividhatīrthastutayah” (sundry hymns): The composition is by one 'Jinacandra' who plausibly was Jinacandra sūri III of the Kharatara-gaccha (A.D. 1286-1320). This composition is incorporated in the Jainastotrasandhoha (Pt. 1), Ed. Muni Caturavijaya, Prācīna (Jaina) Sāhityoddāra Granthāvali, No. 1, Amdāvād V.S. 1989 (A.D. 1932), pp. 375-377. Its verse 22 (p. 377) refers to the five temples of 'Arāsananagaratīrtha' by name, those of Nābheyadeva (Rsabha), śāntinātha, Nemi, Pārsva, and Vīra.
2. In S. 1503/A.D. 1447, Somadharma gani, disciple of Cāritraratna gani and grand disciple of Somasundara gani of Tapā-gaccha, composed the Upadeśasaptatikā in Sanskrit which, in its second chapter, eighth lecture, dwells on Päsila and the tale of the building of the Neminātha temple at Ārāsaņa. The text was edited by Muni Caturavijaya as No. 33 of Śrī ātmānanda Grantharatnamālā, Bhāvnagar V.S. 1971/A.D. 1915, pp. 38, 39.
3. The "Ārāsanīya Nemicaityaprabandha," incorporated in the Purātana Prabandha Sangraha, Ed. Muni Jinavijaya, Adhisthātā-Singhī Jaina Jñānapīțha, No. 2, Calcuttā V.S. 1992 (A.D. 1936), pp. 30-31was composed some time before S. 1528/A.D. 1472. It, too, dwells on the anecdote of the building of the Neminātha temple at Arāsana by Pāsila.
4. The Prācīna Tirthamālā-samgraha edited by Vijayadharma sūri includes in the collection the "Pt. Megha-Viracita Tīrthamālā," composed by Pt. Megha (or Meha) in c. mid 15th century A.D. Its verse 24 and 25 describes Ārāsaņa, its mines and mentions the five temples, namely of Adi(nātha), Nemi(nātha), Lodana (Pārsvanātha), Sānti(nātha), and Vīra (i.e. Jina Mahāvīra.)