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

Page 31

Introduction
were the Dewans of the Rulers of Jaipur State, got written several manuscripts and distributed to the various Sastra Bhandars of Jaipur City. They also constructed Jain temples in Jaipur City and established Sästra Bhandārs in them.
Bharat' and Nanna, the ministers of Rastrakūța dynasty in Mānyakheta requested the famous poet Puspadanta to compose Mahapurāna in Apabhraíša language in 9th Century and patronised the poet. The minister also got many copies of the Mahapurana and distributed them in various parts of India.
Mohan Dasa who was the Dewan of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh (1678 10 1724) constructed a very big temple in Āmer and established a Grantha Bhankar in it.
Dewan Ramcandra Chābrā (1784), Rao Kriparām Pāndya (1782 to 1790) and several other Dewāns of Amer and Jaipur gave their full support for the establishment of Gianth Bhandārs and copying out the manuscripts for distribution.
ŚRAVAKAS
The Sivakas played a prominent part in the preservation of these Bhandārs They enhanced the number of manuscripts by their presentation to Sastra Bhandārs On every religious day they used to offer some book. They used to request the scholars and monks to compose the new works and when the new works were completed they got several copies written and presented one copy to each Śästa Shandār They gave support to the scholars. Caudhari Devarā). Nemicanda Sridhar, Sadhu Bhullan, Todarmal, Harsa Säha, Hemrā) were among the thousands of Sravakas who requested the scholars and got prepared the manuscripts. The most important and valuāble contribution of these Sravakas was that they always wanted the books in the common and national language and also requested the authors either to translate the original works into common language or to compose the new one so that they could easily be able to read these works themselves Moreover there were several merchants and bankers who got written several copies of these minuscripts and distributed them to the various manuscript libraries for the sake of reading. After the down fall of the institution of Bhattārakas, they saved the Sastra Bhandārs from disintegration. They took the management in their own hands and in the time of muslim attacks they concealed them in the basements of the temples In the later period of 17th to 19th Century, there had been many Hindi Scholars in Rajasthän and Gujrât who not only composed the works but also shared equally in
1. Uttara Purana of Puspadanta. 2. Viravāni, Jaipur. Vol I.