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Appendix A.
Extract from Mr. S. P. Pandit, M. A.'s translation of Dr, Buhler's letter on Jaisalmer Bhandar,
published in the transaction of the Berlin Academy, March, 1874.
(From Indian Antiquary, Vol. IV. Pages 81-83.)
"In Jessalmir, which was founded about the middle of the twelfth century, after the destruction of Lodorva, the old capital of the Bhatti Rajputs, there is a large colony of Jains. According to tradition the forefathers of these people came from Lodorra along with the Rajputs, and from thence brought with them to Jessalmir a most holy image of Parasnath (Parşvanatha ). For this image a temple was built in the fifteenth century under the pontificate of Jina Bhadrasuri, to which were gradually added six other temples dedicated to different
Tirthankaras. Through this temple and the wealth of the Jain community, which has spread its trade and banking business over the whole of Rajputana, Malva, and Central India, Jessalmir has obtained a high fame as one of the principal seats of the Jain faith. Especially, however, is the renown of the Bhandar or Library everywhere celebrated, whichi, according to the statements of the Gujaratis, surpasses all similar Bhandars in the world. It was therefore Oite of the chief objects of my journey to obtain admittance to this Bhandar, and to make its contents accessible to science. After some trouble I succeeded in solving the mystery, and it turns out that the magnitude of the Bhandar has been very much exaggerated, but its contents are nevertheless of great value."
"Aho Shrut Gyanam"
