Indian Antiquary Vol 31

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 70

66
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(FEBRUARY, 1902.
which be placed the twenty sculptured feet. In the centre of the hill also he built a Jinalayam, or Jain temple, with the image of Parsvanátha Tirthakara : on the north of the hill, near the foot, he erected two other Jinalayams, one dedicated to Chandraprabha Tirthakers and another to Parvanatha Pirthakars; and finally he constructed a Dharmakala, or Cheultri, close to the temples, for the accommodation of travellers. freniks ruled at Rajagiri, and during his reign, the hill Samedha-Parvata attracted an immense number of Jain pilgrims.
After the race of Breniks, Maharaja had ruled for some time, the Bauddhas Sacreased and took possession of the country, and obstracted the Jain travellers. Their fall was succeeded by a state of anarchy, in which the petty chiefs of the country compelled the pilgrims to pay a heavy toll. When the principal temple was destroyed by the Bauddhas, the image of Parsvanath was carried off my a Zamindar, who kept it in his house, and subsequently showed it to the pilgrims at a fixed rate. This practice still continues. When the Jains assemble in considerable number, and the sum demanded is paid in money or goods, the image is sent abroad to the place where the travellers halt, and set up under a guard for the worship of the Jainas who have collected: the image being erected is worshipped by the people, and various offerings are presented of greater or less value -- the whole of which is appropriated by the Zavinder; and when the ceremony is concluded, the image is restored to his charge.
There are two seeta of the Jains religion, one called Digambara, the other Swetambars: the images of the Digambaras are plain and naked, but those of the swetambaras are richly ornamented.
In the year of the Vikrama-sakam 1825 (A. D. 1769) there was a rich merchant of the Swetambara sect at the city of Murshidabad, and going to Madhuvanam, he perceived that the feet of the Tirthakarns or gods, upon the bill of Sumedha Parvattam were nearly obliterated : baving no family, he applied his wealth to the service of religion, and he renewed the Padame or feet, in an elegant style, bailding over each a small mantopam or shrine, with four pillars; and #sikhara or peak. On the centre of the hill he built a Jinalayam or Jain temple, where he placed the 24 images of the Jain Tirthakaras. The temple was surmounted by four pinacles, and enclosed by wall; and since that period, Jagat Seth and other Swetambaras of Makhsudabad, have contributed to maintain a Gauda Bráliman at Madhuvanam, to perform the ceremonials of their faith; and # Naubat-khána, or band of drums and trumpets, to sound twice a day at the bours of worship. In like manner the Digambara Jainas, who were at Murshidabad, entered into a subscription, and erected another temple of their own, close to the temple of the Swetambaras, in which they placed about 100 small marble images of the Digambara gods, with the establishment of the Naubat and a priest of their own caste to attend and perform the proper rites ; they built alko & Dharmasála or Chaultri, for the nse of travellers. — The said Digambaras established another temple upon the hill of Sumedha Parvattam, in which they placed 33 marble images of the Jinas; among them, three are very large. On the north of the bill is an unfinished temple. It is said that in the year S. S. 1686 (A, D, 1762) a priest of the Jainas named Kolapus Lakshmi Benacharya arrived at this place, and built a Garbhalayam, or inner part of the temple, in which he established an image of Partyanaths ; but his funds failing, he determined to revisit his home, to collect # supply ; he accordingly went to his country, but dying there, the work remains unfinished.
There are two divisions of the set of Digambaras: one is called Vibpanthi and the other Therapanth1.. The pilgrims of the Vispanhti seet worship with flowers and fruits, and offer different kinds of sweetneats; but those of the Therapanthi division present no flowers nor fruits. They offer sacred rice called akshata, sandal, cloves, nutmeg, dates, mace, plums, almonds, dry cocoanuts, and sweetmeats, etc. These things they place before the images, after which, standing before the temple, they leap and dance to their own songs, the naubatkhdna resounding all the time, and passages of their sacred volumes being read by a priest. When they advance to present their
By theno, bowever, the writer intends evidently the Muhammadans. -T. Cf. Ante, Vol. VII. p. 28.
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