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Some Facts - Old and New
CHAPTER 8
SOME FACTS - OLD AND NEW
(1) The Vicerory of India (under British Rule) agreed that the Jains
should pay Rs. 60,000/- a year to the Maharaja of Palitana for the upkeeping of Shri Shatrunjay.
Aagamoddharak Acharya Shri Anandsagarsurishwarji instilled a donation of Rs. 11 lakhs so that its interest will automatically pay the annual dues of Shri Shatrunjay mentioned above. After A.D. 1947 (Indian Independence), when the States merged in the Union of India, Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai used his good offices and the annual dues was abolished. Subsequently, the interest income (of Rs. 11 lakhs mentioned above) was well employed to construct ladder steps all the way upto the top and also those of Ghetyni Paag.
(2) Before V.S. 1890, there was a big valley at Ramapole. Sheth Motisha
got it filled and built the 'toonk'.
(3) The present author (Acharya Shri Kanchansagarji Maharaj) has
come to the following two conclusions :
(a) The road between Vaghanpole and Haathipole must have been
newly constructed, in the 17th century, as only two temples are old ones, whereas all the rest are new ones. The temple of Kumarpal and Neminath ("Chori') are the old ones. The new road does some inevitable injustice to the old temples as the front-end and the back-end are reversed - the present front door was the back door in past judging from the architectural principles.
(b) Savasomji's Toonk must have been built on a hill, partly flaten
ed by mandering a high peak as it occupies the central location, whereas the surrounding toonks were constructed much earlier than Savasomji Toonk.
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