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owing to its strategic position. The Buddhist monastery? inscription of V.E. 847 (790 A.D.) and Paramar inscriptions from a Siva temples prove that the town was a centre of diverse cultural activities from the 8th to 12th centuries A.D. It was also a centre of Jainism. There were once several ancient Jain temples. But these are now broken by the invaders and a few fragments of the architectural pieces and icons are all that remain. Some of them are studded in walls constructed during the 18th century A.D. According to an inscription9 of V.E. 1191 (1134 A.D.) Khandelawala, Shresthi Sant's sons had the icons of Shantinath, Kunthnath and Aristhanemi installed here. In another inscription occur the names of Vira sena10 and Sagara sena, showing that it was also a centre of the Digambar Jain sect. The temples of this town seem to have been demolished under Shershah Suri who wrought great devastation here. At Chanda Khedi (Khanapur), a place close to this town, a grand Pratistha-Mahotsavall was celebrated in V.E. 1746 (1690 A.D.). Several icons, Yantras and other sacred objects were consecrated during this ceremony and were despatched to several Jain centres of Rajasthan M.P. etc. But no icon was sent to Sheragarh. The reason evidently was that no Jain temple stood in this place having fallen prey to Islamic intolerance.
Jhalarapatan :
Jhalarapatan is famous for its richly carved monuments and sculptures. The Shantinath temple was built during the 11th century A.D. by Saha Pipa, whose death took place at Jhalarapatan12 in 1109 A.D. Several inscriptions from Nishedhikas dated V.E. 1066 (1010 A.D.), 1180 (1123 A.D.) 1009 (952 A.D.), 1289 (1232 A.D.) 1299 (1242 A.D.) etc. are worthy of notice. It is evident that
7. I. A. Vol. XIV p. 45.
8. E. I. Vol. XXIII pp. 133-139/M. L. Sharma-Kota-Rajya-ka Itihas Vol. I Appendix.
9. E. I. Vol. XXXI p. 83.
10. An rep on Indian Epigraphy 1952-43 No. B-431 p. 70
11. M. L. Sharma-op. cit Vol. II Appendix.
12. Kailash Chandra Jain-Ancient towns and cities of Rajasthan (1972) pp. 135-136/PRASWC 1905-6 p. 56/ARRMA 1912/Anekant Vol. XV No. 6 p. 280-282.
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