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Chapter VII
Important Jain Families
Jain inscriptions and colophons recorded in Jain MSS furnish a great wealth of detail regarding many prominent Jain families, which spent generously and lavishly on religious and benevolent activities as well as outstanding works of art and architecture. Several Jain ministers were also known for their service to the state. Below we discuss a few Jain families of whom we know from inscriptions.
Early Inscriptions :
Early Jain inscriptions do not furnish much details regarding individual families. Most of these inscriptions are concerned only with the installation of icons and the construction of temples etc. by individuals, whose antecedents are not fully recorded. Thus these early inscriptions are not very useful in reconstructing the history of Jain families or communities. The information gleaned from these early inscriptions is also fragmentary. The Ghatiyala inscription1 of V.E. 918 (861 A.D.) narrates the names of some Jain Shresthis, who were included among the Goshthikas of the temple. The Rajorgarh2 inscription of V.E. 979 (922 A.D.) speaks of the family of Dharkat Sarvadeva and Pulind, who had a temple of Shantinath built there. The Hastikundi inscription of 1053 (996 A.D.) contains the names3 of some Jain Shresthis, who acted as the Goshthikas of the temple. The Mandor museum inscription of the 10th century A.D. reports minor details regarding a Dharkat family who had constructed a Jain temple. The Pindawara inscription of V.E. 1088 (931 A.D.) pre
1. J.R.A.S. 1895 p. 413-521
2. An. Rep Indian Epigraphy 61-62B. 128,
3. E. I. Vol. X pp. 10-18/Jin-Vijay No. 318.
4. Abu V No. 366.
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