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Grantha Bhandars of Bikaner Dwision
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(51) GRANTHA BHANDĀR OF JAINA TEMPLE SETHJI
The collection of the manuscripts is an ordinary one. The total number is about thiee hundred It seems that most of the manuscripts were either purchased or brought from the Săstra Bhandar of others temples There are no rare and early manuscripts here.
GRANTHA BHANDĀRS OF BIKANER DIVISION.
BikānerState was founded by Bikāji in the year 1488 A.D. Previously the area consisted of several small political regions under Sankhlas Parmārs, Cauhans, Bhátts and Jāts. But after conquering all of them Bīkāji founded a state which was called Bikaner after his name? From Jodhpur among other warriors Bothra Vatsarāaja and Vaid Lakhansiji who were Oswal Jainas came with Bīkāji. Vatsa Rāja; was the Minister of Rao Lūņakaran. Thus in the Bikaner state from very beginning the Jainas generally conducted the administration of the state and the rulers had great confidence in them
Apart from the political importance, Bikaner City has also its importance from the literary point of view There are collections of about 50 to 60 thousand manuscripts only in Bikāner out of which about 20 thousand manuscripts are in the collection of Anûpa Sanskrit library and the remaining 40 thousand manuscripts are collected in the Jaina Bhandārs. In this big collection of manuscripts, there are hundreds of manuscripts which are rare and available only in these Bhandārs. Besides the huge collection there are manuscripts which are illustrated and written with golden and silver ink. The illustrated Vigyapti literature is also in their collections. In this Division all are Swetāmbār Grantha Bhandārs and no Digambar Grantha Bhandār ure there. The following are the Grantha Bhandārs in the city
(52) VRIHAT GYANA BHANDĀR
The collection of the manuscripts has been placed in Bara Upāsra in in Rängadı kā Cauka. Before the year 1901 there was no such Bhandar here, but
1. The History of Bikaner State Part 1, by G, S, Ojha p. 96
2
Ibid. page 91
3, Bikaner Jaina Lekha Sangraha page 2
4. Manuscript Catalogue preserved in Abhiya Jaina Granthälaya Bikaner.
