Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

Author(s): Ramvallabh Somani
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur

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(iii) Purpose of endowment was always specifically recorded. In medieval Jain inscriptions we find following common purposes for donations :
(a) Management and maintenance of temple including the supply of material for18 daily worship of the deity.
(b) Rathayatra19
(c) Other celebrations20 like Asthanika, Kalyanika-parva. Annual celebrations (Varsha-Granthi) etc.
(d) Minor-works-like supply of oil for lamps21, incense etc. (e) Exemption on levy of taxes22 from pilgrims coming to visit the religous shrines (Abu etc.).
(iv) Details of beneficiaries are also given. The grant being a legal draft the stress was always laid on recording due details with exactness in order to minimise ambiguity.
(v) The inscription ends with a record of the names of witnesses and the usual customary verses in praise of endowments in general. A hope is expressed that no one would transgress the grant.
Endowments were made both in cash and in kind. Sometimes the donor also desired to spare a part of his income payable from the royal Mandapika etc. Among these the Selahathabhavya and Talarabhavya were the important items from which such share was mostly desired. Similarly, donation was also given out of the income derived in shape of tax to be levied from import and export of animals and other merchandise. Besides, the donor also
18. Separate grants for maintenance of temples and worship of diety were given (Jin-Vijay No. 318/ E.I. Vol X p. 10) Vijaydharma Suri-Devakula Pataka (Bhavanagar) pp. 32-34.
19. The Lalrai inscription of V. E. 1233 mentions of Gurjar-Jatra (Jin Vijay No. 348 E. I. Vol. XI p 50). The Baghasena inscription of V. E. 1359 (1302 A.D.) contains information about the donations given by number of Solanky families for arranging the Yatra-Mahotsava (Edited by the Author in the Sodh-patrika Vol. XXIII No. 2 pp.68-69).
20. Jin Vijay No. 349, 353. Abu II No. 251.
21. ibid No. 342, 353./E. I. Vol XI p. 41.
22. Abu II N. 240, 241, 242, 244 and 245,