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JAINISM IN RAJASTHAN
The Chauhans reigned at Nadola during 960-1552 A.D. AshvarajaCauhan was a feudatory of Kumarapala. He embraced Jainism and suspended animal slaughter in his kingdom. His inscriptions bear testimony to his numerous gifts to the Jain shrines. His son Raya pala who succeeded him was a worthy son who made gifts of land, corn and money to temples. Many Jain temples were erected in the domain of Alhanadeva and Kalhanadeva who also made many a gift.
Jainism also had a good time under the Chavadas and Chaulukyas of Gujarat. The former line was founded by Vanaraja. He had invited ShilagunaSuri to visit his kingdom and was prepared to place his whole domain at his feet. This he did because when child Vanaraja was lying in a cradle in the forest, the Jain savant had made a forecast of his future kingship. Suriji however would not accept the gift of the kingdom; but it was at his orders that Vanaraja erected the Panchasara temple at Anahilapurapatan and installed a Parshvanaath image there. He also invited the Jain merchants of Shrimal and Marudharadesa to settle at AnahilapuraPatan.
MularajaChaulukya acquired the kingdom from the last Chavada king in 942 A.D. His domain was widespread in Rajasthan. He had great respect for Jainism and erected Mularajvasahika. Vimala, dandanayaka (chief of police) of king Bhima I, constructed the world famous Jain shrine at Mt. Abu.
Jainism had the most prosperous time under the Chaulukya kings SiddharajJayasinghDeo and RajarshiKumarapala. This was the period of the great scholarly ascetic Hemachandracharya. His profound scholarship and austerity helped the spread of Jain religion in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Although Jayasingh was a Shaiva, he helped Jainism with utmost respect. It was in his court that the famous debate between the Digambara sadhu Kumudacandra and Shvetambara sadhu Devasuri was held in 1125 A.D. Hemachandra often graced his court by his august presence.
Kumarpala succeeded SiddharajJayasinghdeo on the throne of Patan with the help of Hemachandracharya who effectively influenced Gujarat politics. He sincerely worked for spread of Jainism and made his state a model Jain kingdom. Animal slaughter was prohibited throughout his domain. According to Dvyasraya, the Brahmins of Palidesha substituted corn for animals in sacrificial offerings. Libraries (jnana-bhandaras) were established at many places in his kingdom. He was instrumental in erecting many temples in his kingdom including one in Jalore. In Mandawala has recently come up a new temple complex known as JahajMandir.
Though the royal support to Jainism was lost after Kumarapala, it still continued to progress with the support of powerful men like Vastupal and Tejapal. Vastupal and Tejapal were at first ministers of Bhima II and later of Viradhval. Tejapal got an artistic temple constructed at Mt. Abu in 1230 A.D. and Samarsingh donated a village named Dabani to meet the recurring expenses for daily worship and upkeep of the temple.
Jainism made good progress under the Paramara kings as well. An inscription found in a village named Diyana in Sirohi indicates that during the days of Krishnaraja, one Vardhmana installed the image of Viranaath. This inscription is significant from historical point of view since it establishes the date of Krishnaraja. From the Jhadoli inscription it is revealed that Sringaradevi,
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