Book Title: Jaina Temples of Western India
Author(s): Harihar Singh
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

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Page 55
________________ 38 Jaina Temples of Western India Adinatha-tunk in the western end of this pinnacle is the oldest one at Shatrunjaya. It is here that the pious Jainas have concentrated their utmost attention in building and rebuilding the temple of Adinatha. As a result of several repairs the originality of this temple is almost completely obliterated. This is the only temple at Shatrunjaya which belongs to our period. Vadnagar-It is an old city lying beside the Vadnagar Railway Station in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. It was called Camatkarapura in the Krtayuga, Anartapura in the Tretayuga, Ananda pura in the Dvaparayuga and Vṛddhanagara in the Kaliyuga.14 In the Nisitha Cürgi it is mentioned as Akkatthali (Arkasthali).15 Hiuen Tsang also makes mention of the town of O-Nan-to-pu-lo (Anandapura). 100 On the basis of the Märkandeya Purana it has been suggested that Anandapura was named after Anandesvara Śiva to whom the town was sacred.107 According to the Vadnagar Prasasti of Kumarapala, the town was named Anandapura since it was the bestower of joy during the whole four ages.108 During his visit to this town Hiuen Tsang reports that "the population is dense; the establishments rich.... There are several tens of Deva temples, and sectaries of different kinds frequent them."109 The richness of town is also indicated from the fact that it was called a sthalapattana. 110 The town was a stronghold of the Nagara Brahmanas. This is apparently known from the Vadnagar Prasasti of Kumarapala wherein it is mentioned that Kumarapala caused a rampart to be built for the protection of this "Brahmana town."111 The literary evidence traces the association of the Jainas with this site to the time of the Maitrakas, as in 454 or 467 A.D. Dhanesvarasuri read Kalpasūtra before king Dhruvasena to console him on the death of his son.112 But the archaeological testimony represented by a temple of Ṛșabhadeva does not carry us prior to the 10th century A.D. At present the fortified town of Vadnagar is dirty and the establishments poor. Towards the east end of the town is a large lake which is the chief Jain Education International attraction of the town. Besides, there are some monuments of historical importance of which the Amthermātā temple group, the two kirtti-toranas and the temple of Hathakeśvara Mahadeva are noteworthy. The two kirtti-toranas are the masterpieces of Indian art and architecture. In the centre of the town may also be seen on old Jaina temple dedicated to Rṣabhanatha. Than-It is situated about two and a half miles north of Than Railway Station in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat. Than derived its "present name from Sanskrit sthan 'a place', as though it were the place hallowed above all others by the residence of devout sages, by the excellence of its city and by its propinquity to famous temples such as that of Trinetresvara, now called Tarnetar, the famous temple of the Sun at Kandola, and those of the Snake-brethren Wäsuki and Banduka.... Nor is Than famous in the local tradition only, one of the chapters of the Skanda Purana is devoted to Trinetresvara and the neighbourhood, and this chapter is vulgarly called the Than Purana or Tarnetar Mahatmya.... Here we learn that the first temple to Sun was built by Raja Mandhätä in the Satya Yuga...... Than was visited also by Kṛṣṇa and his consort Laksmi..... Modern tradition only carries us back as far as the Babrias, who ruled here until driven out by the Paramāras, who were expelled by the Käthis, who in their turn were dispersed by Shujaat Khan, Subähdär of Gujarat, and were succeeded by Jhalas."113 Though we get ample information about Than in the Brahmanical literature, the Jaina literature is silent, and except for a ruined small Jaina temple situated on a hillock, nothing of Jaina's is known from here. When Cousens visited this place there were two Jaina temples standing very close to each other, 114 but now one of them has gone and the other is in a very ruinous condition. Ghumli-Ghumli or Gumli, the site of ancient Bhumillikā, 115 lies 33 miles northeast of Porbandar in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. It is stituated in a valley towards the north-eastern end of the Barda hills. Bounded on the south and For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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