Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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They were great patrons of art and literature, and their catholic attitude encouraged the development of various religions. During their rule, several Jain temples were constructed at Jalore, Osia, Nagaur, Mandor, Rajoragarh etc. The Osia inscription of V.E. 1013 (956 A.D.), recorded on the Jain temple in the town, states that the temple was originally built there during the reign of the Pratihar king Vatsaraja. The Ghatiyala inscription10 of V.E. 918 (861 A.D.) composed in Prakrit is highly prized for its detailed genealogy of the Pratihars of Mandor. It records that the Pratihar king Kakkuka erected two Jain pillars, one at Mandor and another at Ghatiyala. The Rajoragarh inscription11 of V.E. 979 (922 A.D.) of the reign of the Gurjar Pratihar king Savat speaks of the installation of a collossal image of Tirthankar Shantinath, locally known as the Navagaja. The name of Savat12 is also mentioned in other inscription dated 1016 (959 A.D.) incised in the Shiv-temple of Rajoragarh and belonging to the reign of his son Mathanadeva.
Rastrakutas of Hatundi :
After the downfall of the Pratihars, several Rajput kingdoms sprang up in Northern India. The Rastrakutas of Hatundi, Dhanop and Vagada were related to the Rastrakutas of Deccan and Gujrat. Inscriptions from the Jain temple13 of Hatundi of the dates V.E. 973 (916 A.D.) 996 (939 A.D.) and V.E. 1053 (996 A. D.) furnish the names of the rulers of a local dynasty of the Rastrakutas: Harivarma, Vidagdharaj (V. E. 973) Mammat (V.E. 996) Dhaval and Balaprasada (V.E.1053). The inscriptions also throw interesting light on the political events of the reign of Dhavala14, noting that when Paramar Munja of Malawa invaded Ahar (Mewar) its ruler fled in distress and took refuge with
9. Nahar I No. 788.
10. Journal Royal Asiatic Society 1895 P. 516/E.I. Vol. XVIII P. 87.
11. Annual report of Indian Epigraphy 1961-62 No. B. 128. Dashrath Sharma The Rajasthan through the Ages (Bikaner 1966) P. 574.
12. E. I. Vol. III pp. 265-267.
13. Ibid Vol. X PP. 10-18/Nahar I No. 898/Jin-Vijay No. 308.
14. A. K. Majumdar-The Chalukyas of Gujrat (Bombay) P. 28 Pratipal Bhatia -The Paramars (Delhi) pp. 47-48/History of Mewar by the Author p. 57.