________________
[ 131
Jawar :
Jawar is known for its mines. According to various literary sources the zinc and silver mines of this place were being marked during medieval period. In the reign of Maharana Lakha, the town also became a centre of Jainism. According to an inscription55 dated V.E. 1478 (1421 A.D.) the Shantinath temple was erected here by Pragvat Nana. It was consecrated by Somsundar Suri of the Tapagachchha. Several senior Jain monks were present on this occasion. A long list of these monks is available in an inscription revealing that the Pratistha-Mahotsava was arranged at a lavish level. The inscription adds that Pragvat Nana and his son Ratna had performed pilgrimages to Chittor, Satrunjaya, Girinar, Arbud, Jirawala etc. In V.E. 1489 (1433 A.D.) Devakulika56 was added to the temple. The architect was Sahadeva and the donor Shresthi Kanha. The name of Jinsagar Suri of the Kharatargachchha is recorded in another inscription of the same date. In V.E. 1492 on Phalgun Vadi 4 (1436 A.D.) a number of Jain teachers named Ksamamurti, Vivekahansa, Udayasi 157 Gani, Merukunjar and others visited the place, a visit recorded in a fragmentary inscription. Similarly, Harikalash of Dharmagosh
chchha,58 Padmasekhar Suri and other notable monks visited the place in V.E. 1495 on Jyesth Sudi 4. In V.E. 1497, on Jyesth Sudi 15, Ratnachandra Suri with his disciples also went there to pay homage to the deities enshrined here. Jawar thus developed into an important centre of Jain pilgrimage. In V.E. 1508, when59 a Pratistha ceremony was arranged at Delawara, an icon was also sent to Jawar. The “Vir-Vihar”60 was constructed by Shresthi Kanha under the instructions of Jinchandra Suri of the Kharatargachchha. The name of the Sutradhar (architect) was Limba.
55. Vir Vinod Vol. I Appendix/ARRMA 1925 No. 5/Vijaydharma
Suri No. 118. 56. Vijaydharma Suri No. 143. 57. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy 1956-57 B. 517. 58. ibid B. 522. 59. Jin Vijay No. 372. 60. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy 1956-57 B. 524.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
