Holy Abu

Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

Page 98

CHAPTER III
DELVĀDĀ At a distance of about 18 miles from Ābu-Road and it miles from the Abu Camp is situated the village of Delvādā, adorned with beautiful Jaina shrines which are famous all over the world as rare specimens of (Mediæval) Indian Art. Since there were many Hindu and Jaina shrines in this area, the place was known in ancient times as Devakulapāțaka or Devalapāțaka (a city or group of Temples).
It seems that formerly there were many Jainas resident in the Delvāļā. An image of Pārsvanātha was installed in V.S. 1222 (1165-6 A.D.) in cell No. 54 of Vimala Vasahī, by a merchant (Shreşhțhī) Devacandra and others living in Delvādā. 1 Shreşhțhī Āmbavīra of the Dharkața family, also a native of this place, installed another image, in cell No. II of Vimala Vasahī, in the year 1245 V.S. (1188-9 A.D.) The famous inscription dated V.S. 1287 (1230-31 A.D.) regarding the future management of the Lūņavasahī built by Tejapāla, asked all the Jainas of Delvāļā to celebrate every year the dates marking the five auspicious events in the life of the Tīrthankara Neminātha (the chief deity of Lūņavasahī). 3 Another record shows that a native Jaina, Zānzaņa by name, who was son of Shreshțhī Sāyara of Prāgvāța caste, installed a metal image of Mahāvīra now worshipped in a shrine in Vāsā near Rohida, old Sirohi State. Jaina sādhus are also known to have spent here their rainy seasons in the sixteenth century which would be difficult in absence of local Jaina population.
1.2.8.4 Abu, Vol. II, inscriptions_Nos. 171,55, 251, 547 respectively. .
5 Ibid, Nos. 195, 203.