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MONUMENTS & SCULPTURE A.D. 600 TO 1000
(PART TV dynasty known as the Sorasenes who were patrons of art and architecture, Under their benevolent rule both Brahmapism and Jainism flourished in this region, known anciently as Sarasena, after which the dynasty obviously took its name. In the old mosque known as Chausath-Khamba at Kaman may be soen numerous Brahmapical and some Jaina sculptures of the early medieval period, Kaman was a seat of Jainism of the Kämyaka-gaccha, and Jaina teachers of this gaccha, Vişnusuri and Mahesvarasori, are mentioned in the Bayana stone inscription of 1043. In 1032, during the rule of one Lakşminivasa, identifiable with the Sürasena chief Laksmana, the Jaina author Durgadeva wrote the Rsta-samuccaya in a templo of Santinātha at Kumbhanagara or Kaman! Another Surasena ruler called Kardama, who was initiated into Jaina order by Abhayadeva-suri and named Ghanesvara-suri, is said to have found the Raja-gaccha. Like Kaman, Bayana, anciently known as Santipura or Sripathă, was also a stronghold of Jainism and yielded an inscribed Jaina image, dated 994, recording that it was dedicated at the instance of one Sürasena of the Vågada-sangha.'. A fourteenth-century mosque known as the Ukhá-masjid and five other mosques at Bayana were built with the material obtained from the demolition of many Hindu and Jaina temples of the early medieval and later times, as is attested by the re-used old carved pillars and other architectural members. That Narhad (ancient Narabhata), situated near Pilani, was also included in the art-province of Sarasena is shown by the find of four highly artistic ninth-century images of standing Jinas, two of Neminatha and one cach of Sumatinatha and Santinātha, found at this placo.
Nilakantha or Rajorgarh (or Garh), also called Paranagar after the colossal image of Pārsvanatha, is an old town of Matsyadesa, situated to the west of Sürasena, and is a reputed centre of early medieval and medieval sculptures and temples of the Jaina as well as Brahmapical, mainly Saiva, sects. An inscription dated 923 of the time of king Savata records the construction of a Santinātha temple and the installation of the main image therein at Rajyapura. The place is well-known for its colossal (4.95 m. high) image of Pārsvanátha locally called Naugajă, and three other large Jina figures (plates 76, 77A and 77B), and for the remains of recently discovered Jaina temples of circa tenth century,
1 Indian Antiquary, XIV, 1885, pp. 8 ff. ·K C. Jain, Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan, Delhi, 1972, p. 150.
Tbid., p. 153.
Dashratha Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties, Delhi, 1959, plate facing p. 228; Indian Archaeology Review 1956-57, New Delhi, 1957, p. 43.
Indian Archaeology Review 1961-62, New Delhi, 1962, p. 83.
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