Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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Dhaval of Hatundi. The latter also provided a much needed15 shalter for Chauhan Mahendra of Nadol, when the Chalukya Durlabhraj of Gujrat invaded his Kingdom. Dhavanivaraha of Abu, on being attacked by Chalukya Mularaj of Gujrat, also took refuge with him.
These events are not recorded with due detail in other contemporary inscriptions and the Hatundi inscriptions are, therefore, of great historial value for reconstructing the events of the period to which they belong.
The Chauhans of Ajmer:
The Chauhans of Ajmer were a powerful dynasty. We know from literary sources that they had patronised the Jains, especially after16 Prithvi raj I came to the throne. Several Jain temples were built at this time in Ajmer, Maroth, Baghera, Bikampur, Phalodi and other places of Sapadalaksa and Nagaur and Uparmal. Many inscribed icons too were installed. The Shyetambars of Kharataragachchha and Dharmaghoshagachchha were quite influential. From Uparamal two Bijoliya inscriptions are the only important Jain epigraphs belonging to the Chauhan period. One contains a text from a Jain Purana named "Unnat-Sikhar". The other dated V.E. 1226 (1170 A.D.) is of immense historical importance for it records the genealogy17 of the rulers of Ajiner in verses ten to twenty eight; a genealogy, which tallies with the account preserved in the Prithviraj Vijay. This inscription has led some scholars to declare the Prithviraj-Rasols to be spurious work. Some 19 details regarding Arnoraj and Vigraharaj, two important Chauhan Kings, which are given in verses 14 to 24 of this inscription, are found nowhere else including the Prithviraj Vijay and thus present unique testimony.
15. E.I. Vol. X pp. 10-18/Jin Vijay No. 308. 16. A Catalogue of MSS in the Patan Bhandhar (GOS) pp. 316. 17. E. I. Vol. XXVI pp. 89-120/Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. LV
Part I pp. 14-46/Vir-Vinod I-pp. 383-389. 18. Nathulal Vyas-The Prithviraj Raso ki-Vivechana (Udaipur 1959) pp.
1-248. The Papers contributed by Kaviraja Shyamaldas, G, H, Ojha and
Ram Narayan Dugar are worth reading. 19. Dashrath Sharma. The Early Chauhan Dynasties (Delhi 1975) pp. 49-62.