________________
[ 119
other texts but no important Jain incriptions have been reported from here.
Kekind:
Kekind is an ancient site, situated about 24 kms. from Merta. It has an ancient Jain temple, In an inscription of V.E. 1230, the name of the temple is given as Kishkindha-Vidhi-Chaitya.105 This shows that during the Chauhan period this town was of some importance. On the basis of various inscriptions of the 12th century A.D., engraved in the Shiv temple here106, we learn that it was ruled by Chauhan Rudra, Ranaka Pipalraja, Sudanpal etc. The Jain temple seems to have been demolished by a marauding Muslim army. It was renovated in 1666 (1609 A.D.) by Oswal Napa. He added the Chatusika on the two sides of the temple and installed the Mulanayak icon. The inscription in the temple contains valuable information about the history of the Rathors of Marwar.
In this way we can say that, Jainism remained quite popular in western Rajasthan.
Mewar :
Mewar too is an important centre of Jainism. There were several Jain temples here at Chittor, Kareda, Ahad, Devakulapatak, Dhuleva, Badnor, Bijoliya, Kumbhalgarh and other towns. These towns were mainly centres of the Kharatargachchha. The Pipalika branch of this gachchha flourished in Mewar. The Tapagachchha is also associated with Mewar, as an epithet 'Tapa' (hard-ascetic) was bestowed by the ruler of Mewar in V. E. 1286 upon Jag chandra Suri.
Chittor :
The Chittor fort contains many monuments devoted to Jainism. The Phalodi (Merta Road) Jain temple inscription of
105. Jin Vijay No. 378./Nahar I No. 872-873
106. PRASWC 1911 p. 35/M.A. Dhaky's paper on the Shiv temple of Kekind published in Journal of oriental Institute Baroda
For Private & Personal Use Only
Jain Education International
www.jainelibrary.org
