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the temple Sushani-Chaitya.35 This temple was renovated in V. E. 1573 (1516 A. D.) by the family of Surana Hemraj of Nagaur. The name of Hemraj is also available in a Jain temple inscription of Nagada (Udaipur) and Phalodi Mata inscription of V. E. 1555 (1498 A. D.). This family was obviously important. The Sushani Mata has remained a family deity of the Surana-clan of Oswals. Therefore, their families carried out extensive repairs of the temple. The inscription gives the genealogy of Hemraj's family from Gosal. The Phalodi36 inscription also contains more detailed information about this family.
Jaisalmer :
Jaisalmer is famous for its ancient Jain temples and other architectural reporatories. The literary sources reveal that a Jain temple of Parshwanath was erected there in V.E. 1260 by Bohitharal Ksemendhar's son Jagaddhar. Several festivities were arranged at Jaisalmer in V.E.1321, 1326, 1340, 1356, 1383 etc. under the auspices of the monks of Kharatargachchha. A Vidhi-Chaitya of Parshwanath was also constructed there by Upakesh Jindeva, as is evinced from the Khambat inscription3 of V.E. 1356. Thus it can be said that when Alauddin Khilji invaded, there were several Jain temples in Jaisalmer. All of them were demolished during the course of invasion. At present there are following Jain temples deserving special mention.
Chintamani-Parshwanath :
Situated in the fort, the Chintamani-Parshwanath temple4 also known an “Laxman-Vihar" is celebrated among the important Jain shrines of Rajasthan. The construction of the temple was
35. L. P. Tessitory-Journal A. S. B (NS) Vol. XIII P. 214. 36. Mahomahapadhyay Vinay Sagar's paper published in Rajasihan Bharati
Vol. IX No. 4. 1, Kharatargachchh-Pattavali p. 44 2. ibid pp. 58-80 3. Jin-vijay No.447 4. R. A. Agrawala-History Art and Architecture of Jaisalmer (Delhi 1979)
pp. 39-40
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