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श्री राष्ट्रसंत शिरोमणि अभिनंदन ग्रंथ
JAINA TEMPLES OF THE PRATIHARA PERIOD
Dr. Brajesh Krishna The Pratiharas, also known as Gurjara-Pratiharas, occupy an important place in ancient Indian history. The period of this dynasty (eight to tenth century A.D.) saw a great cultural renaissance. In the field of art, numerous temples, adorned with innumerable images, were erected in various parts of northern India. According to the Jaina Prabandhas, a king Ama, who ruled over Kanauj and Gwalior during the ninth century, built Jaina temples at Kanauj, Gwalior, Mathura, Anahilavada, Modhera etc. King Ama of the Jaina tradition is identified with Pratihara Nagabhata II (C..A.D. 794833) who is known to have Jaina learings. The veracity of this tradition is attested by the Pratihara Jaina remains encountered at these places. In fact, the Pratihara period played a significant role in the history of the Jaina religion. In this period, it could make headway in Rajasthan, Gujarat and in central India, specially the regions of Bundelkhand and Malwa.
Three inscriptions of the Pratiharas throw a welcome light on the spread of Jainism in this period. Ghatiyala inscription records that the illustrious Pratihara king Kakkuka built the temple of god Jina at Rohim sakupa which has been indentified with the modern village of Ghatiyala (35 kms from Jodhpur). The temple was entrusted by Kakukka to the Jaina community presided over by the ascetics Jamadeva and Amraka and the merchant Bhakuta in the gacha of the holy Dhanesvara. The old ruins of the temple are extent even at present in Ghatiyala village and are known as Mata ki Sala.
Another inscription belonging to the regin of Pratihara king Vatsaraja (C.A.D. 778-812) found at Osian (66 kms from Jodhpur) refers to the construction of a Jaina temple. In fact the record is engraved on a porch of an extent Jaina temple, dedicated to Mahavira. This temple stood in the heart of the city Ukesa (i.e. Osian) at that time and it was renovated in samvat 1013 by a merchant named Jindaka.'
The third inscriptions of the Pratiharas is inscribed on one of the four massive pillars that support a detached portico in front of a Jaina temple of the Pratihara period at Deogarh (Dist. Lalitpur, U.P.). The inscription refers to the existence of the temple of Jaina Arhat Santinatha. The pillar, which contains the inscription, was constructed by a Jaina acharya Deva, a disciple of the acharya Kamaladeva at Luachchhagiri (i.e. Deogarh).*
No doubt, number of Jaina temples were erected in the Pratihara peiod. However, most of the temples have been ruined and at present not many architectural specimens have survived. In Rajasthan, amongst the extent Jaina temples of the Pratiharas the important are the Mahavira temple at Ghanerao (Dist. Pali) and the temples group at Osian (Dist. Jodhpur). M.A. Dhaky considers the temple of Ghanerao to be a notable example of the Medapata (Mewar) school of Maru-Gurjara style of architecture and assigns it to the mid-tenth century A.D. on grounds of its stylistic similarities with the Ambika temple at Jagat."
Deptt. of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology,
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (Haryana)
हेगेन्द्र ज्योति * हेमेन्द्र ज्योति 140 हेमेन्द ज्योति* हेगेन्चा ज्योति।
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