Jain Kashthapat Chitra

SR No.: 006752
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vasudev Smart
Publisher: Omkarsuri Gyanmandir Surat
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 156
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 46

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Surat in 1638 spoke highly of the Navaytas as expert businessmen. These Navaytas harassed the Jains and damaged their temples. Kavi Narmad also refers to the persecutions inflicted by the Arabs.
Even after the fall of the Navaytas, the Jains continued to flourish in Rander. It was still a prosperous and a safe city in 1405 when the seat of Bhattaraks of the Jains belonging to the Digambar sect was transferred from Gandhar to Rander by Shri Devendrakirti. Again we have a record that shows that the old seat of Balatkaragan of the Digambar sect of Jainism was tansferred from Rander to Surat in a temple situated in place known as Dandia near Khapatia Chakala by Bhattarak Vidyanandji in 1462. A traveller named Barboza makes a reference to Antonio D. Sylveria, a captain of the Portuguese navy who had first invaded the port of Gandhar in 1530 and then, after having heard about the wealth and prosperity of Rander, invaded and looted the port and the city. Ratnamanirav Bhimrav Jote has noted this incident and described how the invaders ravaged and looted the city for days together. He writes that Rander was subjected to Portuguese lootings not once but twice and it was almost broken after that. It could never regain its former glory again. As a result, the Jains began to migrate from Rander to Surat.
The temple of Neminath and that of Adishwar in Nanigali and that of Adinath Bhagwan in the Nishal falia, are the temples in Rander which are at least 400 years old. Shri Vinayvijaysuri stayed in Rander for four months of the monsoon in 1682. He began writing a long poem titled Shripal Rajano Ras at the earnest insistence of the Jain community of Rander and composed as many as 750 gathas or verses. But he died before he could complete the poem. It was then completed by his dear student Nyayacharya Shri Yashovijaygani, who was a prolific writer. His paduka or foot mark (10" x 7.5") with an inscription is in the temple of Neminath in Rander. Suryapur Chaitya Paripati written by him contains a reference to the three temples of Rander belonging to the thirteenth centruy. The Mul nayaks of these temples are Neminath, Shamlaji and Rushabhdev.
Mogul Emperor Jahangir visited Rander in 1624 and was given a royal reception by the the leader of the business community of the city. The entire road from Surat to Rander was covered with carpets of silk in honour of the royal visitor. The artistry of the mosques in Rander bears out the fact that even the muslim community of the city was fairly rich and prosperous.
CH10
32 : Jain Kashthapat Chitra
Jain Education Intemational