Jaina Granth Bhandars in Rajasthan

Author(s): Kasturchand Kasliwal
Publisher: Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra Mandir

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Grantha Bhandārs of Aimer Division.
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Rajasthan remained a literary centre for many centuries. This State though divided into several small states, was never under the direct control of the Central Government of Delhi and so there were not many political changes and peace and order generally existed in this area. The Rulers of Rajasthan always regarded all the religions of their public equally. They never interfered in religious matters and the public was allowed to follow their own religions freely.
The Jainas were peace loving persons and were an influential community, Most of the states of Rajasthan and specially states of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer. Udaipur, Bündi,, Dungarpur, Alwar, Bharatpur and Kotäh were the main centres of the Jainas. For centuries persons of the Jaina community took prominent part in the State Administration. They reached the highest posts and got honour from the Rulers and due to this thousands Ja.na temples were constructed throughout Rajasthan The Jaina temples of Abu, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Sanganer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Sojat, Ranakpur, Mozamābād, Kāśoraipatan Kota, Bundi and several others remained the centres of Art and Architecture for a considerable period.
centre
From the literary point of view also the Rajasthan remained always the Rulers and the eduacated public in general took great interest in literature. New works were written and old ones copied The collection of the Jaina Grantha Bhandars of Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jaipur, Bikaner. Udaipur and Ajmer are unique and such big collections are not available in other parts of India The earliest dated manuscripts written on palm leaves as well as on paper are preserved in the collection of the Grantha Bhandars of Rajasthan. Not only old manuscripts were collected but new works were also composed. The Grantha Bhandars of this State are so valuable that some of the mauuscripts are found only in the collection of these Bhandars 80 percent of the Apabhramsa works are preserved in these Bhandars and specially at Jaipur, Amer, Nagaur and Ajmer Bhandārs Work on Rajasthan and other vernacular languages are found in such a great number that other Bhandars of India cannot be compared with them. More than half of the Hindi works which were composed by the Jaina authors were written by Rajasthäni scholars and are preserved in these Bhandars
Ajmer, Nagaur, Amer and Dungarpur remained the main centres of Digambara Bhattarakas who were not only scholars but had great influence on the public of their time So in these places we find good collection of the manuscripts They used to travel in the interior of the small villages for the spread of the knowledge and moral teachings