Book Title: Holy Abu
Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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Page 165
________________ (Holy Abui (I) On the outer wall of the Hasti-Shālā, facing the east, are carved 16 Jina-figures on pillasters of the wallsection which has a window in it while on the arch above the pillasters are carved 76 more Jina-figures, thus making a total of 92 Jinas. It seems that 24 Jinas of this avasarpiņi + 24 Jinas of the past utsarpiņi + 24 Jinas of the future utsarpiņi + 20 Viharamāņa Jinas of our age = 92 Jinas are intended here. On the inner face of the arch are visible 70 miniature figures of Tirthankaras, two more are covered up by the side pillars, and a total of 72 Jinas thus formed must represent the three Chovisis. (2) There are several more miniature figures of Tirthařkaras on various parts of this structure. There is a doomed porch between the main entrance to the Vimala Vasahi and the six-pillared hall of the HastiShālā. It is not known when the porch was erected and by whom. It may however be noted that it was not constructed along with the Hasti-Shālā, for when Āchārya Hiravijaya sūri paid a visit to these shrines in 1639 V.S, it was nonexistent, as can be inferred from the Hira-Saubhāgya-MahaKāvya which describes the visit. The text refers to a flight of stairs at the entrance of the Vimala Vasahi and makes no mention of the porch. It is therefore reasonable to think that the porch was erected between V.S. 1639 and V.S. 1821.1 Under this porch, in front of the Hasti-Shālā are lying three loose stone slabs, technically known us Surahi (sanskrit-Surabhi-cow) stones from the figure of a cow carved on such slabs. Inscriptions on these slabs show that they were carved in V.S. 1372, 1372 and 1377, * by the orders of 1 For this lower limit, see the remarks on the shrine of Mahāvīra Svāmi. % Abu, Vol. II, inscriptions nos. 240-242.

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