________________
[ 97
Bhramantika and other structural parts. What survives of the original is only the sanctum, which appears to have been built at the end of the 8th century A.D. and is quite similarll to the one in the temple of Hari Har nearby. Other parts of this temple bear obvious signs of later renovations. There was a column (Man stambh) with an inscription dating V.E. 952 (895 A.D.) but is now broken. The temple12 was renovated in V.E. 1013 (957 A.D.) by Shresthi Jindak. He perhaps added the Mandap to the temple. The Toran was13 built in the last quarter of 10th century A.D. (V. E. 1035 ). A bronze image bearing an inscription of V. E. 1011 (954 A.D.) was unearthed during the construction of a Dharmashala near the temple. A broken part of an image bearing an inscription dated V.E. 1100 was also discovered. According to the inscription dated 1011, an icon of Shantinath was installed in the Upakeshiya Chaitya by Devadatt, pupil of Karkacharya. Several inscriptions bearing14 the dates V.E. 1088, 1231, 1234, 1259 1438, 1492, 1512, 1534, 1549, 1612, 1683, 1758 etc. have been discovered from this site, showing that this temple has remained a much revered holy site of the Shvetambar Jains over the centuries. The Nabhinandan-Jinoddhar,15 written by Karka Suri contains a vivid description of Osia and Kiradu, another ancient town. It refers to the temples, step well and other land marks of Osia. It speaks also of an annual celebration of Rath-yatra, which was regularly
11. M. A. Dhaky's paper published in Mahavir Svarna Jayanti Mahotsava
Granth Vol. I p. 312/Krishnadeva-Temples of Northern India (N. B, T.) P. 31.
12. Nahar I No. 788/An. Rep. A.S.I. 1908–9 P. 109.
0 आदित्य वारे स्वाति नक्षत्र श्री तोरणं प्रतिष्ठापिमिति ।
13. To 1035 TT
ibid No. 789.
13A-ibid No. 803.
14. An Rep. A. S. I. 1908-9 P. 102/PRASWC 1907 p. 36/Nahar I No. 791 to
802./The Jain Tirth-Sarva Sangraha Vol, I Pt. II pp. 173-74/ Anekant Vol. XXVII No. I pp. 23-25.
15. The Nabhi-Nandan-Jinoddhar Prabandh II verses 185-187,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org