Jaina Granth Bhandars in Rajasthan

SR No.: 011017
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kasturchand Kasliwal
Publisher: Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra Mandir
Publication Year: 1967
Total Pages: 394
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

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102
larna Grantha Bhandårs in Rajasthan.
Jaisalmer has been regarded as one of the safest place of Rajasthān. Jaisalmer was founded by King Jaisal in Samvat 1215 (1158 A.D.). But the manuscripts which are in the collection of the Bhandār are carlier than its time of foundation. Since its foundation there must have been frequent visits of Jaina Sadhus and is also certain that the Jaina Šāstra Bhandăr was established from the very beginning of the city. In the 15th century Jina Bhadra Sūri who belongs to the Khartar Branch of the Swetāmbara sect established the Grantha Bhandar in a systematic way and collected the manuscripts. Sri Jina Bhadra Sūri also established Sāstra Bhandar at Jalore and Nāgaur but they were destroyed by the Muslim invaders. It was his foresightedness for establishing the Grantha Bhandar at Jaisalmer.
According to Dr. Bhandārkar there are manuscripts copied in Vikram Samvat 924, 1005, 1120, 1127, 1134, 1144 and 1155 but he has stated that the time of manuscript copied in v. s. 1139 seems to be correct. But now Muni Punya Vijaya discovered the earliest manuscripf of Samvat 1117 (1060 A.D).
Though there are several manuscripts which were written in Jaisalmer but there comes no name of Jaisalmer in any of the manuscripts. There are three manuscripts which were composed in the Jaisalmer fort. They are as under .
1. Salıbhadra Carita :--was composed in the year 1228 AD
2
Manjjana Sundari Carita -composed in the year 1350 A D.
3. Jambū Dwipa Pragyapu :-composed in the year 1590 A.D. by Upadh
yaya Punyasāgai
There are six Jaind Grantha Bhandars in the city. Their names are as follows ---
1. Brihad Gyāna Blindār. 2 Pancano Bhandar. 3 Badā Upasraya Jaina Gyāna Bhandär.
4. Tapa Gacchiyā Gyāna Bhandir 5. Lokā Gacchıya Gyana Bhandār.
6. Thāharu Saha Gyana Bhandar.
(69) BRIHAD GYANA BHANDĀR
This is one of the most important Grantha Bhandārs in Rajasthån. It was founded in Saṁvat 1497 (1440 A.D.) by Jina Bhadra Súri along with the temple of