Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

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

Page 82

Conversion of Families to Jainism :
The Kharatargachchha Pattavali records that Jindatt Suri, converted several Maheshwari families of Bikampur to Jainism. Similarly several Rajputs, who were wooed to non-violence propogated by the Jains, became followers of Jainism. Thus the Sisodiyas, Sonagaras etc. have a close association with the Jains. The Nadlai inscription80 of V. E. 1557 (1500 A. D.) speaks of the relation of the Bhandari Jains with the Chauhans of Nadol. The Mandowara, Devapura, Mantri, Khatod, Porawal etc. were in earlier times Jains, several of whose inscriptions have been found on Jain icons of the medieval times. Later on, these gotras jointly embraced Shaivism and became Maheshwari.
Names of individuals:
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The medieval Jain inscriptions (especially those engraved on icons) furnish very interesting details about names of individuals. Often instead of the full Sanskritised name only its short colloquial form, was recorded in epigraphs. From the 12th century A. D. onwards, such names became very common. Thus for Mulasingh the short form given is Mula, or Muliya. It seems that the influence of the Deshi Bhasha or Apabhransh, was beginning to dominate even written language. Names81 like Jalhan, Malhan, Jhanjhan, Chahad, Kelhan, Visal, Kadua, Behad, Lunag, Rajad, Abad, Deda, Goga, Ujoana, Tahan, Gosal, Dahad. etc. definitely have their roots in Apabhransh etc.
Women also had similar colloquial names. The etymology of some names is not clear. For example some names like Amaku, Jhamaku, Machaku, Kadu, Sakhu, etc. seem to have been derived purely from local dialects.
It was common practice for a woman to adopt her husband's name in some form after her marriage. Following are the few examples from inscriptions ranging from V. E. 1501 to 1510.82
80. Jin Vijay No. 336/Bhavanagar inscriptions pp. 141-44.
81. Vasudev Sharan Agarwal's introduction to the Pratishtha-Lekh edited by M. Vinay Sagar.
82. Vinay Sagar No. 356, 404, 381, 379, 358, 413 and 456.