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Sankhawal families of Jaisalmer Bikaner etc.
Kirti-ratna-Suri of Kharatargachchha, who had composed some inscriptions66 the Neminath Mahakavya along with other works belonged to the Sankhawal family. The Jaisalmer Tapa-Pattika inscription of V.E. 1505, Kirti ratna Suri Stupa inscription of V.E. 1525 and Shantinath temple inscription of V.E. 1583, etc. are the main epigraphic sources dealing with the history of this family.
The progenitor of this family was Amba, who had a son named Kochar. Kochar shifted his family from Korantak (Godawar) to Sankhawali, where he constructed a Jain temple and undertook Sangh-yatras. He became a follower of the Khartargachchha. He had a son Mula and grandsons Raula and Heera. Raula had two sons namely Apamall and Depamall. Apamalla's descendant Asraj became a man of renown. He undertook Sangh-yatra to Shatrunjay. Giranar Abu etc. and installed several pattas bearing scenes of Shatrunjaya (Tirth-Pattika) etc. His sons were Kheta and Pata. Of these Kheta undertook Sangh-yatras every year from V.E. 1511 to V.E. 1524. A Jain temple named Asthapada was built by him with the association of the Chopara family of Shivraj, Mahiraj etc. in V.E. 1536. Kheta distributed sweetmeat (Ladus) in Marwar in order to celebrate the consecration of temple and had several copies of Kalpa-sutra made. He had sons named Bida and Noda. Bida's sons were Sahasamall, Karna and Dharana. The inscription of V.E. 1583 of Jaisalmer, contains detailed information regarding activities of Bida. He went to Santrunjay, Giranar, Abu, Ranakpur etc. and distributed Lahana”. In V.E. 1581, some additions were made by him in the temple of Asthapada. He arranged for festivities at large scale.
Bhanda Shah, who constructed the Bhandasar temple in V.E. 1571 at Bikaner was also a descendant of this family. As already stated, Depamall had 4 sons, named Lakha, Bhada, Kelha and Delha. Later on these brothers left Korant and settled at different places. Bhada moved to Visalpur, while other brothers settled at Mahuva.
66. ibid No. 2144, 2154/Mahopadhyaya Vinay Sagar--Nakoda Parshvanath
(MS) Appendix/Neminath Mahakavya composed by Kirti ratna Şuri.
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