Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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father Jayatsingh are not fully described in the above57 epigraphs. The Uparaganva inscription, on the other hand, declares that Sihad, the ancestor of the ruling families of Dungarpur and Banswara, was the son of Jaitrasingh of Mewar. It also adds that Jaitrasingh captured the territory of Vagad, which was given to his son Sihad. This information is quite crucial, for it furnished us with the earliest evidence dealing with the genealogy of the rulers of Vagad.
After Maharawal Pata (V.E. 1461), his son Gajpal succeeded him. Jainism continued to prosper during his reign. Several Jain MSS. were copied during his58 kingdom. His successor was Somdas, whose minister Salha built a massive Jain temple at Antri,59 as is evident from its inscription dated V.E. 1526 (1469 A.D.). This inscription contains a detailed account of the periods of Gajpal and Somdas. During this period Dungarpur developed as an important centre for tbe manufacture of large bronze images. Some of these are preserved in the temples of Abu, Dungarpur Sagawara and other major towns of Vagad.
Jaisalmer :
Jaisalmer is another important town for the study of the development of Jainism in Rajasthan. Soon after the foundation of the town, Jainism found a stronghold there. The Kharataragachchha Pattavali60 contains several references to various activities of the Jains in the town. The Jain inscriptions of the Parshvanath61 temple dated V.E. 1473 (1416 A.D.), the Sambhavanath62 temple dated
57. The Baneshvar temple inscription of V. E, 1617 of Maharawal Ashakarna
and Goverdhannath inscription of V. E. 1679 of Maharawal Punja contain
above information. 58. The following colophons are worth quoting (1) MS. Panch Prasthan (V. E.
1480 (2 and 3) Dvayashraya Vriti (V. E. 1485 and V. E. 1486) (4-5) Uttaradhyan Sutra (V. E. 1486 and 1489). (6) Kathakosh Prakarana (V. E. 1487) (7) Dash Vaikalika (1489) etc.
The Etihasika-Sodh-Sangraha by the Author pp. 43-46. 59. ARRMA 1926 p. 2, 60. The Kharatargachchha-Pattavali (S.J.G.M.) pp. 34. 61. Nahar III No. 2112. 62. ibid No, 2139.