Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

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Shrimals :
The Shrimals are associated with the town Bhinmal, which was, in ancient times, a very prosperous site. The Kuvalayamala (8th century A. D), and the Upamiti-Bhava-Prapanch-Katha (9th century A. D) composed in that region do not speak of a Shrimal caste of Jains, although they speak at quite length about the manifold activities of business communities17, termed as "Vanikas". A series of migration has scattered the enterprising Shrimals over different parts of the country and there are several distinct branches of this caste. Their names suggest their association with different ancient provinces. Thus there are18 the Tak-Shrimals. the Haryana-Shrimals, the Sonagariya-Shrimals etc. The Jain inscriptions of Rajasthan speak of a number of gotras of the Shrimals, namely Tambi-Shrimals, Dhandhiya-Shrimals, Kumkumalot-Shrimals, Dhor-Shrimals, Barahudiya-Shrimals etc.
Pragavats :
Pragavat was an ancient territory, the exact location of which is not known. The Karanbel inscription19 of 1155 A. D. speaks of the rulers of Mewar, as holding sway over the Pragavat country. Some literary references lead us to infer that the territory around Abu and Godawar was perhaps known20 as Pragavat. The colophon of M. S. Mahavir-Charita dated V. E. 1236 states that this word is derived from the word "Prachi-Vata". Some scholars believe that the Pragavat, as a caste was created by Haribhadra Suri, 21 who converted a number of families to Jainism at Chittor. Most inscriptions belonging to this caste have been found in
17. The Kuvalayamala (S.J.G.M.) pp. 55, 56, 67-103/Dr. Premsuman JainKuvalayamala-Ka-Samshkipta-Adhyayana (1975) pp. 106-107.
18. Vinay-Sagar No. 982, 454, 364, 177, 433 and 720. Several other ramifications are also known about the Shrimals. From the Jain inscriptions of Bikaner the names of Tambi Shrimals, Dhandniya, Shrimals and Kumkumalot Shrimals are also known (Bikaner 1628, 2736, 1696. 2218, 1609 etc.) 19. E. I. Vol. II. pp. 11-12.
20. Dolatsingh Lodha-Pragvat-Itihas pp. 11-13.
21. Hermann Jacobi-The Samaraichchakaha (Cal, 1926) Introduction.