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COMPREHENSIVB HISTORY OF JAINISM
As we have already seen, a large number of towns of this region, were associated from very early times, with the Jain religion. Several Jain centres like Satyapura (Sanchor), Jāvālipura (Jalor), Jaisalmer, Abu were associated with Jainism, even before 1300 A.D. Both Satyapura and Jāvālipura, the two famous Jain centres, as we will shortly see, were destroyed by the perfidious Muslims in the early 14th century. Let us now turn our attention to Jaisalmer, which still continues as a Jain centre of pilgrimage.
The association of Jainism with Jaisalmer goes back to V.S. 1244, when in the spiritual reign of Jinapati of the Kharatara gaccha, the sangha of Jesalameru (the old name of Jaisalmer), participated in the pilgrimage, organised by that saint.118 The earliest temple of this place, viz. that dedicated to Pārsvanātha, was constructed by Jagaddhara, son of Kshemandhara, before 1218 A.D.114 This temple of Pārsvanātha is mentioned in connexion with Kharatara Jineśvara's visit to this place in V.S. 1323.116 Jinaprabodha116, of that gaccha visited Jesalmeru in V.S. 1340, and he was given a very warm welcome by Karṇadeva, the king of Jesalameru. Jinacandra III of the same gaccha visited this place in V.S. 1356 and stayed there till V.S. 1338. The then king of Jesalmeru viz., rajadhirāja Jaitra. simha, who was a great patron of Jainism, gave him a rousing welcome and new icons were installed by Jinacandra III in the Påráva temple in V.S. 1358, corresponding to 1300 A.D.117 His successor Jinakusala paid a visit to this temple118 in V.S. 1383. And Jinapadma, the successor of Jinakušala, also visited the temple11° in V.S. 1390.
It, therefore, appears that the temple of Pārsvanātha of Jaisalmer, was the only Jina temple of that place, for a very long time. During the rule of Lakshmana in the early 15th century, this temple was repaired. P. C. Nahar is obviously wrong 120, when he claims that it was during Lakshmaṇa's reign, that the temple was first built. It appears that as a result of Ala-Ud-din's raid, this temple
