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(Holy Abu
shrines at Shatruñjaya, Girnār, Aşhțāpada, Ābu and Sammeta-Shikhara. 1
According to Jaina Pațțāvalīs (lists of Pontiffs or chief monks ) the thirty-third Pontiff from Mahāvīra was Shri Vimalachandra Sūri. His pupil, Shrī Udyotanasūri who started a sub-division of monks known as the Vaďagachchha (Vțddhagachchha ) came on a pilgrimage to Ābu in V. S. 994 (937-8 A. D.) which suggests the existence of Jaina shrines on Abu in the roth century A. D.
There is a belief that Mahāvīra visited the Ābu region during his tours as a monk before attainment of Kevalajñāna (i.e. in Chhadmastha-avasthā). An inscription to this effect was obtained from Muñgathalā (MundasthalaMahātīrtha ) a village about 4 miles west from the foot of Mount Abu which refers to this fact. The inscription is : 1 Upadeshasaptatikā, 3.3.
2 The inscription was discovered by Muni Shri Jayantavijaya the original author of this book. He has published a reading of the same in his Arbudāchala-Pradakșiņā-JainaLekhasamdoha, ( Ābu, Vol. V.) inscription No. 48, p. 17. He seems to have regarded the tradition as based on historical facts. But the inscription is a very late one and the account of Mahavira's Itinerary in the Kalpasūtra, Niryuktis or Chūrnis does not support it. The only factor that requires serious consideration is the fact that Mahāvira is said to have visited Vītabhayapattana in the Sauvira country. This fact is supported by very early Jaina traditions including that of the Bhagavati Sūtra. See, Sidelights on the Sandalwood Image of Mahavira, by U. P. Shah, Journal of the Oriental Institute, Vol. I, No. 4. In that case it would be possible to suppose that he visited these parts. Already in the age of Samprati the Jainas were at Ujjain and possibly in Western India. It is not unlikely that there was an early shrine at Ābu or nearby-Translator.
| SR No. | 023259 |
| Book Title | Holy Abu |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jayantvijay |
| Publisher | Yashovijay Jain Granthmala |
| Publication Year | 1954 |
| Total Pages | 380 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 14 MB |