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Grantha Bhandars of Ajmer Division.
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1607 A.D. one grand Jaina Prapisthā ceremony was celebrated which was conducted by Sri Nāna Godba who was the Minister of Rājā Mansingh of Jaipur. Only four year's before this ceremony Chitar Tholia a Hindi writer completed his work 'Holi li Katha' in saṁwat 1660 (1603 A.D.) and described the town as follows:
सौलासे साठे शुभवर्षे फालगुण शुक्ल पूर्णिमा हर्ष । सौहे मोजाबाद निवास, पूजे मन की सगली पास ।। सोहे राजा मान को राज, जिहि बोधि पूरब लग पाज । सुखि सवै नगर मे लोग, दान पुण्य जाणे सउ भोग ।।
--Prasasti Sangrah p. 231
In the year 1538, Bhavisyadatta Carita of Dhanpål Kavi was written in this town and at present this manuscript is housed in the Šāstra Bhandär of Amer, Srāvakācār of Vasunandı which was written in Saṁwat 1630 (1573 A.D.) is preserved in the Grantha Bhandar of temple Badhīcand. In the year 1589 A.D. Ādināthapurāņa of the Apabhramsa language was copied in the Adinātha temple.
Saswat 1660 (1603 A. D.) was specially marked for literary activity. Yasodhara Caritra' of Sakal Kirti and of Gyāna Kirti2 were copied in this year and were placed in various Bhandārs of Rajasthan,
The Sastra Bhandar is a part of the temple which is situated in the centre of the town. The manuscripts are placed in two Almirahs and their total number is 368. The condition of the Sastra Bhandar is not satisfactory, Several manuscripts have been destroyed due to the carelessness of the management. They have not been placed even in Vesthans so the dust and climate have attacked them frequently.
There are two copies of Jasahara Cariya of Puşpadanta fully illustrated. No where these illustrated manuscripts in Apabhraíśa language have been found. As such these are rare manuscripts. Out of these one is complele and other is incomplete. These were copied in 16th century. The paintings are very fine. The earliest dated manuscript is of the 15th century. The manuscripts of Pravacansära of Kunda Kunda Acārya, (ii) Jinendra Vyakarana (111) Şațkarmopdeśa Ratnamálă of Amarkirti (iv) Trişaşțismrati Sastra by Āsādhar (v) Yogasära by Amitigatı (vi) Tattwärtha Sutra Tippani by Yogadeva (vii) Adipurāna Tippana by Prabhācandra are important.
1. Rajasthan ke Śästra Bhandaron ki Grantha Suct, Part III.
2. Pra astı Sangrah of Amer Sastră Bhandar, Jaipur. page. 281
