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JAINISM IN RAJASTHAN
(Kumbha), the son of Mokala. Many temples were constructed in the whole kingdom. The famous Jain Kirti-stambha was also built during this period. The grand temples at Ranakpur and Kamalagadh also came up during his reign. Jainism spread further under his son Rayamal. HirvijayaSuri, on whom Akbar had bestowed the title of Jagadguru, was once invited by Maharana Pratap. Pratap's son Amar Singh made gifts to Jain temples.
The glory of Jainism spread further under Jagat Singh. He invited Deva Suri and duly honoured the saint. He was impressed by his holy words and became a devotee. Jainism continued to spread thereafter. Dayal Shah, a minister of Raj Singh erected a beautiful temple at Rajanagara.
Bagadadesa region consisted of three kingdoms, Dungarpur, Banswada and Pratapgarh. Here Jainism was widespread even in the 10th century. One inscription of the period states, 'Glory to the Sri BagadaSangh'. Rulers of this area were great supporters of Jainism and their ministers erected many temples. The ancient name of Dungarpur was Girivara. From the Pravasa-gitikatraya of Jayananda it is known that in 1370 A.D. there were five Jain temples and 500 Jain families lived here. In A.D. 1404, Prahlada, the minister of Rawal Pratap Singh, erected a Jain temple. Under Gajapala, Jainism continued to flourish. His minister Sabha constructed a temple of Shantinaath at Antri. Gajapala was succeeded by his son Somadasa. Sala, who was Somanath's minister, got cast massive brass images at Dungarpur and installed them in the Jain temples at Mt. Abu. He reconstructed the Parshvanaath temple at Giripura.
Jainism had profound influence in the kingdom of Pratapgarh. Many images of the 14th and 15th centuries have been recovered from here. An inscription of 1715 A.D. found at Deoli indicates that on an appeal by two merchants, Saraiya and Jivaraja, to King Prithvi Singh even the oil-grinders of this kingdom agreed to suspend their work for 44 days in a year. The Mallinaath temple was erected during the reign of this king.
Jainism prevailed in Kotah from very early times. Padmanandi had written his Jambudvipapannati at Baran sometime around the 8th century A.D. According to this work, Baran had many Jain temples and families. The king's name was Shakti or Shanti. In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Bhattarakas had their gaddis here. In the 11th century three massive images were installed by the Rajput chiefs at Shergarh. Their inscriptions indicate that the earlier name of Shergarh was Koshavardhana. There are Jain caves of the 8th and 9th centuries in the hills of Ramgarh. Formerly this place was known as Srinagara. Many Jain monks lived in the said caves. At Atru there are two very artistic temples of the 12th and 13th centuries. Near Atru there is a place named Krishnavilasa and there are many Jain temples here constructed between 8th and 11the centuries. In 1686 a rich merchant named Krishnadasa erected a temple of Mahavir at Chandkhedi and installed thousands of images. The reigning monarch at Kotah at this time was Kishore Singh. Jainism had a flourishing existence in Sirohi. The Kalandari inscription of 1332 A.D. states that some members of the local shramansangh courted death through samadhi. Many temples were erected during the reign of Sohaja, Durjanasala, Udaya Singh and several other kings. On his way to Akbar's court at Fatehpur Sikri, HirvijayaSuri made a halt at Sirohi. King Surtana Singh
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