________________
156 1
(Digambar) Jain family of Ajmer who had that icon installed at Delhi.
After the downfall of the Chauhans, when Islamic intolerance became comparatively less severe, religious activities by the Jains were resumed again. As stated in the inscription dated V.E. 1337 (1280 A.D.) found at Lodrava an icon of Sachchika was ritually installed at Ajmer by Padma Chandra. H. B. Sarda opines that the cenotaphs of Santipura, Ajmer were old structures. But Dr. Kailash Chandra, on the basis of epigraphical evidence, puts them after the 17th century A. D. According to him, these cenotaphs actually belong to Digambar Bhattarakas belonging to the line of Ratnakirti, who established himself at Ajmer after 1690 A.D. During the reign of Daulat Rao Sindhia Singhvi Dharmadas arranged a big Pratishtha-Mahotsavalo in V.E. 1852 (1795 A.D.) at Ajmer when several icons were consecrated. The Sambhavanath temple, Dadawari, and Gaudi Parshwanath temples are the old Shvetambar Jain temples of this town. Most of the sculptures of Gaudi-Parshwanath11 bear the date V.E. 1893 (1836 A.D.). Some sculptures of Sambhavanath are dated V.E. 1905 (1848 A.D.).
Narena :
Narena was another important town of ancient Sapadalaksa. This word is derived from the word "Narayana." In Persian chronicles. Narayanpur12 mentioned as the capital of Gujarat can be identified with this town. This is also corroborated by epigraphical evidence. The towns named Mangalana (Tehsil Parabatsar) and Didwana, which are not very far away from Narena have been mentioned as part of Gurjar country.
The Jains had a close association with Narena. At present there are two old Jain temples, which have several old icons.
The
8.
Nahar III. 2565.
9.
Vir-vani VII pp. 41-42.
10.
Ibid.
11.
Vinay Sagar II No. 492.
12. Elliot and Dowson-History of India as told by its Historians
(1967) vol. I, pp. 380-393.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
