________________
256 ]
from another Jain icon, of the same year was also published by Nemi-chand Dhanusa Jain who had correctly refuted the
above statement of Muni Kantisagar. 7. In assigning this date of the Kirtistambha, other inscriptions
mentioning the names of the Jain Acharyas can also help. The Devagarh inscription of 13th century A.D. consists of the names of Keshavchandra, Abhaykirti, Vasantkirti, Vishalkirti, Subhkirti and Dharmchandra. According to another inscription found from Chittor, Subhkirti was contemporarylo Maharawal Jaitrasingh ( 1213-1250 A. D. ) of Mewar. In this way Subhakirti and his people Dharmachandra remained active during this period. The inscription No. 3 referred to above, mentions the names of the rulers Narasingh and Hamir. It seems that Narsingh was some south Indian ruler and Hamir was the famous Guhilot ruler of Mewaru These rulers also extended their veneration to Dharmachandra. Thus, Dharmachandra who consecrated the JainKirtistambha definitely flourished in the last quarter of the 13th century A.D. The paleographic evidence also corroborates the above fact. The script of the inscriptions No. 1,2,3, and 4 stated above is quite coeval and analogous to the script of other inscriptions of Mewar belonging to the 13th century A.D.
In this way, we may say that the Jain Kirtistambha of Chittor was constructed during last quarter of the 13th century A.D.
9. Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy 1959-60 Appendix C No. 515, 10. ibid year 1962-63 Appendix 'B' 636,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org