Fresh Reading and Interpretation of Pancasara Parsvanatha Temple

Author(s): Arvindkumar Singh
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_2_Pundit_Bechardas_Doshi_012016.pdf

Page 1

THE FRESH READING AND INTERPRETATION OF PANCASARA PĀRSVANATHA TEMPLE
INSCRIPTION
Arvind Kumar Singh
The famous inscription on the pedestal of the marble effigy of the tradesman Āsāka (Āśāka) placed in the Vanarāja-vihar of Anahillapattana had been earlier published by late Muni Jinavijaya." The pedestal is staggered into five sections, the inscription-part is engraved on the central three of the total five) divisions in which the middle larger portion contains six lines and the two flanking parts four lines each (see plate).
On comparing Muni Jinavijaya's reading with the photograph of the inscription recently made by the American Institute of Indian Studies (see plate), some salient divergencies at once came to my notice : First, the revered Muniji had left out the right hand section (on spectator's right hand) in reading, which is why there are the gaps in the published text; second, the reading of a few words is inaccurate from the orthographical standpoint. I first present Muniji's reading below followed by my own complete reading with emendations.
1. संवत् १३०१ वर्षे वैशाखसुदि ९ शुक्र पूर्वमांडलिवास्तव्य-मोडज्ञातीय-नागेंद्र ... ... ... ... 2. सुत-श्रे० जाल्लणपुत्रेण श्रे० राजुकुक्षीसमुद्भतेन ठ० आशाकेन संसारसारः .... ... .... .... .... 3. योपार्जितवित्तेन अस्मिन् महाराजश्रीवनराजविहारे निजकोतिवल्लीवितान.... .... .... .... 4. कारितः तथा च श्री आशाकस्य मूर्तिरियं सुत ठ० अरिसिंहेन कारिता प्रतिष्ठिता.... .... .... .." 5. संबंधे गच्छे पंचासराविषे श्रीशीलग(गु)णसूरिसंताने शिष्य श्री... ... ... ... .... .... ..... 6. देवचंद्रसुरिभिः ॥ मंगलमहाश्रीः ॥ शुभं भवतु ॥ 1. संवत् १३०१ वर्षे वैशाखशुदि ९ शुक्रे पूर्व मांडलि वास्तव्य मोढज्ञातीय नागेंद्रात्मज श्रे० केसव 2. सुत श्रे० जाल्हण पुत्रेण श्रे० राज्ज कुक्षि समुद्भुतेन ठ० आसाकेन संसारसारतां गत्वा निजत्या3. योपार्जित वित्तन अस्मिन् महाराजश्रीवनराजविहारे निजकीत्तिवल्ली विलासमडपः सा (क्ष) प्तः 4. कारितः । तथा ठ० आसाकस्य मूर्तिरियं सुत ठ० अरिसिंहेन कारितां प्रतिष्ठिताः श्रीनागेंद्र कुल । 5. संबंधे गच्छे पंचासरावि (धे? ?) । श्रीशोलगणसरि संताने शिष्य श्री 6. देवचंद्रसूरिभिः ।। मंगलं महाश्रीः ।। शुभं भवत् ॥
It is clear that the inscription used dental 'sa' in the place of palatal 'sa' in Āsāka. (Jinavijayaji, however, reads the letter as palatal following perhaps the