Mahavira Jayanti Smarika 1981

SR No.: 014033
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gyanchand Biltiwala
Publisher: Rajasthan Jain Sabha Jaipur
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 280
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 20 MB

Page 279

Acco
gious and benevolent activities. rding to this, Shresti Jija constructed. a number of temples at Chittor, Khohar Sajjanpur etc. The construction of Kirtistambha at Chittor was actually started by him. But he failed to cmmplete it due to his death. His son Punya Singh later on completed it. The verses 40 to 44 give information about Jain-Muni Visal Kirti, Subha Kirti and Dharma Kirti. The inscription also narrates that the consecration ceremony of this Stambha was got done by Punya Singh from Dharma Kirti.
4.
An inscription of V.E. 1357 mentions a detailed account of the Digamber Jain Acharyas of Mulasanga Baltakaragana of the tradition of Kund-Kundacharya. It speaks the names of Keshavachandra, Abhaya Kirti, Vasanta - Kirti, Vishal Kirti, Subha Kirti and Dharmachandra. It consists of the account of erection of Manastambha(Kirtistamha) at Chittor. The name of Punya Singh is also available in it. It consists 25 lines with 29 verses.
5. The Mahavir Prashad Prasasti of Chittor of V.E.1495 mentions that Shresti Kumarpal constructed the Jain Kirti Stambha of Chittor. It seems that originally the construction done by Digambar shresti Jija and Punya Singh but its renovation was done by Svetambar Shresthi Kumarpal in 15th century A.D. During the invasion of Alauddin Khilji in 1303 A.D., when a good number of temples of Chittor, namely Kumbhashyam, Samidheshvar, Nilakantha, KalikaMata, Srinagar Chanwani etc. were molested, a conjuncture can be hazarded
that some part of this Kirtistambha was also demolished during that above invasion. It was, therefore, subsequently repaired between V. E. 1480-95.
6. Muni Kantisagar had published an insoription of Nandaganva of V. E. 1541 incised on a pedestal of an image. On the basis of this inscription he attempetd to prove that the Kirtistambha of Chittor was completed during the 15th Century. A. D. But the inscription does not contain such information. It speaks that Punya Singh contructed the Kirtistambha and one of his descendents,
later on, installed the said image. A similar inscription of the same year was also published by Nemi Chand Dhanusa Jain, who had correctly refuted the above statement of Muni Kantisagar also.
7. In assigning the date of the Kirtistambha, other inscriptions mentioning the names of the Jain Archaryas can also help. The Devegarh inscription of 12th century A.D. consists of the names of Kesavachandra, Abhaya Kirti, Vasant Kirti, Visalkirti, Subhakirti and Dharm Chandra, According to another inscription found from Chittor, Subha Kirti was contemporary of Maharawal Jaitra Singh (V. E. 1270 to 1307) of Mewar. In this way Subha Kirti and his people Dharam Chandra remained active during this period. The inscription No. 3 referred to above speaks the names of the rulers Nar Singh and Hamir. It seems that Nar Singh was some South Indian ruler and Hamir was the Chauhan ruler of Ranthambhor. These rulers also extended their homage to Dharmachandra.
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