Aspect of Jainology Part 2 Pandita Bechardas Doshi

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 536

GAMBHIRPUR ROCK PAINTINGS Ravi G. Hajarnis
The village Gambhirpur (latitude N.P. 23°5' east longitude 73°3') is about three kms. to the north of Iḍar in the Gujarat State. The erstwhile Iḍar State, now merged in the Sabarkantha District, is rich in antiquities. The territory of the former Idar State lay mostly to the east of River Sabarmati and north of the River Mahi, between 23°6' and 24°30' north latitude and 72°49' and 73°43' longitude. The State had an area of 1,669 square miles.
The Arvalli hills lay on the southern borders of the State. These granite hills almost surround Iḍar, and some isolated hills occur as far as Himatnagar. The main river system in this territory is formed by the Sabarmati and its tributariesthe săi, Harṇāv, Hathimati, Meśvo, Vätrak and Majum which flow through the plains of the western and southern parts of the former State.
History
U. P. Shah traces some connection of Pratihāra King Venivatsarāja (c. A. D. 783-808) with Iḍar hills on the basis of folk-lore. According to a legend, the king's mother, consort of the king of Srinagara (i.e. Teheri Ghadhval District of the Himalayan region), was brought to the Idar hills by a monster-bird during her pregnancy."
The Chinese pilgrim Hüen T'sang (c. A. D. 640) mentions a place which he calls "O-cha-li", or Vaḍāri. Cunningham identifies this place with Idar (also Rasmālā, 235). The Bombay Gazatteer Vol. V, however, identifies Vaḍāri with Vaḍāli (23°56' N. 73°3' E) to the north of Idar.
According to Shah, Vaḍāli, which is referred to in Hüen T'sang's accounts, was under the Maitraka rule, with Anandapura to its west, Mälva or Malavaka to the east, and Khetaka to its south. He further guesses his route of travel to be from Dasapura (Mandasor), or Ujjain area, to Brgukaccha via Dungarpur through Bhiloda, Śāmalāji, Harsapura (Harsol) to Kärpatavanijya (Kapadvanj), Kathlāl, and Nadiad in Khetakamandala."
Devnimori, about 45 kms. to the south of Idar was one of the great Buddhist settlement during the late Ksatrapa period. The cultural and artistic activities of this region, however, go back to a period anterior to Ksatrapa times. The present author, during the course of his explorations discovered rock paintings from Sapävada, Laloda and Idar which has cast fresh light on the art history of this region from stone age to historical periods."