________________
PRASASTI OF VADIPURA-PARSVANATHA AT PATTANA.
319
XXXVII.-PRASASTI OF THE TEMPLE OF VADIPURA-PARSVANATHA AT
PATTANA.
BY G. BÜHLER, PH. D., LL.D., C.I.E.
The subjoined edition of the Prasasti1 of the temple of Pårsvanatha of Vaḍipura at Aphilvaḍ-Pattana has been prepared according to an excellent paper-impression taken by Mr. H. Cousens and made over to me by the editor.
The inscription is incised on a stone-slab measuring about 28 inches by 16, and contains 52 lines of ordinary Jaina Nagart letters. At the top there are rude representations of two lotuses in the left and right-hand corners, and in the middle a figure, somewhat like a Nandavarta, in the centre of which stands the syllable hra. The execution is good, and the preservation almost perfect. The language is incorrect Sanskrit mixed with Gujarati, and a few Persian and Arabic words. Prakriticisms and Gujarâticisms are:-1. 2-likhana for lekhana, arham for arhantam, 1. 16-bhandari for bhándágárika, 1. 33-milana, 1. 45-bahini for bhagini, bat, 'lady,' 1. 47-paushadhaśálá, as well as a good many Gujârâti names like 1. 15-Ubavála, 1. 40-Osavála, ibidem Sahavade for Subhagadevt and so forth. Persian and Arabic words are 11. 3, 26, 33, 39-pálisáhi, i. e. Pádishah, 11. 14, 37-píra, a Muhammadan saint,' 1. 35-phuramána, firmân,' 1. 48,-allát, 'the Ilâhî era'. The case terminations are mostly omitted, and the rules of euphony are frequently disregarded even in compound words. Of some interest, too, is the inflected form samvati from samvat, which occurs twice, 1. 4 and 1. 36. The whole inscription is in prose, with the exception of the Mangala.
The latter consists of a slightly corrupt Ary& verse, which invokes a blessing on the pious founder of the temple:
"Hail! May the glorious Jina Parsva of Vaḍipura, who resides in Pattana, ever grant wealth, prosperity and eternal happiness to him who built the temple of the community (sangha)."
The next lines, 2-4, give a summary of the contents of the inscription and a date which probably refers to the beginning of the building operations :
"In the temple of glorious Pârévanatha of Vaḍipura, is written the eulogy (of the founder), preceded by an account of the succession of the venerable pontiffs of the famous Brihat Kharatara-(gachchha,) after bowing to the Arhat. In the reign of the Padishah, the illustrious Akabbara, in the year 1651 after the time of the illustrious king Vikrama, on the ninth (lunar day) of the bright half of Margasirsha, on the civil day (called) Monday (i. e., according to Dr. Schram, on November 16, 1594), under the constellation Purvabhadra during a lucky planetary hour (took place) the first beginning." The Pattavalt, 11. 4-40, enumerates the following spiritual chiefs of the Kharatara school :
1. Uddyotanasuri (Klatt,' No. 38), who, descending in an unbroken line from the ruler of the faith, the glorious lord Mahavira, made viháras resplendent.
2. Vardhamanasuri (Klatt, No. 89), who consecrated the temple (vasati) built on Mount Arbuda (Aba) by the dandanayaka Vimala, and worshipped the súrimantra that had been corrected by the glorious lord Simandhara.
1 Regarding the temple and inscription see Burgess's Notes of a Visit to Gujardt in 1869, pp. 105, 115 ff.
Indian Antiquary, vol. XI, p. 248 ff. A complete edition of KshamAkalyana's Kharatara-Paffdvali will appear in the forthcoming volume of Professor Weber's Catalog der Sanskrit urd Prakrit-Handschriften, p. 1030 f. I have bad the privilege of seeing the sheets.
