Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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After the eighth century A. D., the activities of Jains record a significant increase in the State. Oswals :
The inscriptions of Rajasthan refer to the Oswals as Upakesh” or its derivation such as Uves, Uveswal, Upakesh Vamsh, Uswal Oswal etc. Very often the words Vamsh, Nyati and Jati, signifying a clan or cast, are also found appended to "Upakesh" or its derivations. On the basis of literary sources the origin of this caste is believed to have taken place in the remote past, in Veer Samvat 70 when Ratnaprabha Suri of the Upakeshgachchha converted them to Jainism. Some bardic sources link the origin of this caste with the foundation of the town of Osia3A in Samyat 222. But these stories do not seem to be convincing. No epigraphical sources concerning the Oswal anterier to the 10th century A. D. is so far known. Apparently this caste has a close connection with town Osia, which is situated in Jodhpur district. Osia is famous site, with several ancient temples belonging to the 8th and 9th centures A. D.4 Recently, several inscriptions ranging 4A from 6th to 10th centuries A. D., have also been discovered at this site, a fact which shows that it was an important town during this period. It was repeatedly invaded by the Muslim invaders during the Pratihar period and fell into desolation. Drastic famines added to its ruin and compelled its residents to migrate to other places. The Nabhi-Nandan-Jinoddhar-Prabandh5 tells us that this site was deserted and re-occupied several times. As happens very often in India, the residents, who had left Osia, became known as Oswals. After a detailed study of Jain inscriptions, Purnachandra Nahar concluded that the Oswals originated around the 10th century A. D. Indeed considering the fact that a large number of inscriptions
3A, Sukh Sampatiraj Bhandari-History of the Oswals (Bhanpura) pp. 32-33. 4. An, Rep. A.S.I. 1908-9 pp. 139/P.R.A.S.W.C, 1907 p. 36 Krishnadeva-The
temples of Northern India (NBI) p. 31 4A, Indian Archaeology-A Review year 72-73 p. 34.
5. The Nabhi-Nandan Jinoddhar. Prabandh II verses. 185-187. 6. Nahar III Introduction.