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Grantha Bhandrs of Amer Division,
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AJ MER
Ajaimeru Durga, as the present Ajmer was then called, was built by King Ajaypal Cauhān who was the king of Sapada Laksa with Sambhar as his capital early in sixth century A.D. According to Prithvi Raja Vijay, Ajaideva II, the 23rd Cauhan King of Sākambhari founded a town named it after hunself. On the basis of this statement Dr Buhler? concluded that the city of Ajmer was founded by him. But the statement of Dr. Buhler does not seem to be correct as there is an inscription in the Chatris of Digambara Jaina religious leaders called--Bhattārakas which bear the date of Sarivat 817 (760 A.D) The other inscriptions in these Chatris are dated 845 AD, and 871 A.D This was long before the time Ajaideva II who lived in the 12th century
Aimer has been the political and cultural centre of Rajasthan since its foundation. After its conquest by Sahhuddin Gauri, it was made capital of Rajputänä. Itetained this position till the integration of the Rājputānā States in 1949 Ajaideva son of Ānāji" (1130-1150 A D) built Ānāsägar lake and Ānaji son Višaldeva (1151-1163 A.D) constructed the Visalasar lake (Visale) with temples and palaces round it. It was also a centre place of Jaina religion and culture. There is a manuscript in Jaisalmer Bhandār which was copied in Samvat 1212 1.e. 1165 A.D. It refers to Ajmer as Ajaymerú Durga At this time Vigrah Raja Deva was the emperor. the Prasastis is as follows:
सवत् १२१२ चैत्र सुदी १३ गुगै अद्य है श्री अजय पम् दुर्गे समस्त गजावलिविगजितपरमभट्टारकमहाराजाधिराजश्रीविग्रहराजदविजयराजे उपदेशपदटीकाउने ग्यीनि ।
According to the Bhattāraka Pattávali the first Bhattāraka on the Ajmer Gadı was Visalkirti and he sat on this in Samvat 1168 (1111 A.D). This shows that the Ajmer city even before 12th century was the centre of Jainas and a great literary activities had been commenced even before the period in the 16th century the city was a great literary centre. Pradyumna Caritas of Singh Kavi was written in Samvat
1. Ajmer-Historical & Descriptive by Harbiläs Sarda 37
2. Article on Ajmer published in the Indian Antiquary Vol. XXVI. D 162-63
3. Ajmer-Historical and Descriptive by H B Śärda p 37
4. Ibid. p. 38 5. Âmer Šāstra Bhandar-Jaipur.
