Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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V. E. 1497 (1440 A. D.), the Shantinath temple dated63 V. E. 1583 (1526 A. D.) together with other small inscriptions from this area provide useful data for the historian. They furnish genealogical details about the early rulers of Jaisalmer. In the Parshvanath temple inscription, the genealogy begins from Jaitrasingh. It speaks of Muldeva, and Ratnasingh, who righteously protected the earth just as Ram and Laxman had in remote times. This inscription does not record the name of Rawal Duda after Ratnasingh. But the Sambhavanath temple inscription unequivocally lists the name of Duda between Ratnasingh and Ghatasingh. Recently, some memorial inscriptions63A have also been noticed which throw light on the battles fought by the Bhatis, against Muslim rulers. Jaisalmer was invaded by the Muslim armies of Alauddin Khilji64 in V.E. 1371. These temple inscriptions clearly record the recapture of the Jaisalmer fort by Bhati chiefs and furnish very valuable details of this nature.
Marwar
We have already spoken of the Pratihar and Chauhan inscriptions discovered in the territory of Marwar. The region of Nagaur was ruled by a local Khanzada dynasty. Several inscriptions recorded on Jain icons as well as colophons of Jain MSS are also available from this area. A careful study of this material reveals that the Sultans af Nagaur64A were tolerant towards other faiths. A good number of Jain icons were installed. The place later on remained in the possession of the Rathors, during whose reign, Jains had powerful hold in Marwar. The Kekind65 inscription (dated V. E. 1666) of the time of Sursingh contains a genealogy of the Rathors of Marwar. The inscriptions of V. E. 1689 of Muhnot
63. ibid No. 2154.
63A. Varada Vol. XXI No. I edited by Brijbhanu Sharma.
€4.
ARRMA 1936 No. IX, X and XI/Varada Vol. XVII No. 1-2 pp. 11-12, Vol. XXI No. I pp. 26 to 36.
64.A. Author's paper "Nagaur-ke-Sultan" published in the Varada Vol. XX
No. 3-4 pp. 24-35.
65. Jin Vijay No. 377.