Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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him from whose reign a fragmentary24 inscription from Mandor has been discovered. He was removed24A power between V.E. 1203 to 1205 (1146 to 1148 A.D.) by Kumarpal, who seems to have installed Alhan in his place. Alhan and his successors apparently supported Jainism actively. For some years, while he was ruling at Kiradu25, he promulgated an order forbidding the slaughter of living beings on certain days of a month. A good number of grants made by the rulers, officer, local residents etc. for benefaction of the Jain temples are also noticed. A perusal of these inscriptions proves that these officers took profound interest in the worship ceremonies conducted in Jain temples and religious festivities like Rathayatra etc. The Jain inscriptions also furnish valuable information about the extension of his power. From Mandor, Jhanwar, Pal, Osia, Ghanghani (all in District Jodhpur) several inscriptions of the feudatories of the Chauhan-rulers of Nadol have been found. Inspite of the extension of power Alhan himself had to remain a subordinate ruler of the Chaulukyas of Gujrat. The location of inscriptions belonging to the Chalukyas of Gujrat in Godawar territory proves that the kingdom of Nadol, which remained a strong power during the 11th century A.D. lost its former glory in the 12th century A.O. during the reign of Kumarpal, who perhaps, even removed Chauhan ruler Alhan from Godawar and appointed him as a vassal at Kiradu during 1151 A.D. (circa). Several grants, ranging from a period between V.E. 1210 to 1216 (1153 to 1159 A.D.), contain the name of Vaijaldeva and Pratapsingh as the Dandanayakas of Nadol.
After Alhan, his son Kelhan succeeded him in 1163 A.D. His mother Analdevi was a staunch Jain. She made pious donations for the Mahavir26 temple of Sanderao in V.E. 1221 (1164 A.D.).
24. Annual Report of Archaeological Survey 1909-10 Pt. II pp. 102. 24A. The last known inscription of Rayapal is dated V. E. 1203. Alhan's earliest grant is dated V.E. 1205 of Tripurushdeva temple of Nadol now preserved in Rajputana Museum. (Ojha grant No. 3).
25. Jin Vijay No. 346.
26. ibid No. 349/E.I. XI pp. 46-47