Jain Thought and Culture

Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

Page 81

JAI NARAYAN ASOPAR
SOCIAL LIFE OF THE JAIN LAITY IN NINTEENTH CENTURY RAJASTHAN
In the Census Reports and Gazetteers of different states of Rajputana and the British administered territory of Ajmer Marwara the Jains have been counted among the Vaishyas (Mahajanas) The most well known among them were Oswals, Porwals and Saravagis While the Shrimals, Shrishrimals, Khandel wals and Bagher wals were comparatively less known Among the Agarawals and Maheshwaris also a few belonged to this sect
The Oswals' claim to have been Rajputs who were converted to Jainism by Ratnaprabha Suri Among their 325 surnames known to us there are Gehlots, Chauhans, Thakurs and Sisodiyas also, which led them to believe that they were Rajputs converted to Jainism But we would like to say that out of the remaining surnames some arc based on the names of their forefathers viz Gemavata, Jatavata, Tulavata, Tharavata, Palavata, Bachhavata, Viravata, Muhanoyata, Lunavata and Bharagota etc, while most of them derive the appelation from the village or town where they lived or migrated viz Kanoja Khatora, Kharival Khimasara, Jalori, Didu, Dhillivala, nagapura, Navera, Pipara, Pipaliaya Pokarna, Bamboi, Bhinamala, Mandovara, Meratavala, Ratanpura, Runavata, Sirohiya, Sisodiya, Surapura Shrimala, Hemapura, etc., and a few were known after the professions they adopted viz Kırada, Kumkuma, Kothari, Kharabhandari, Khetarapala, Gandhiya, Gaya, Gugalia Choudhari, Ghiya, Barada, Bidamıya, Baidamuta, Bohara, Bhandari, Manahara, Lakkada, Sethiya, Soni, Harana etc It will be clear from the derivatives mentioned above that they do not throw any hint towards their Rajput
Lecturer, Post Graduate Correspondence Course University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 1 Report Mardumshumant Raj Marwar of 1991, Pt IIT, Jodhpur (1895), pp 407 ff