Jainism in Gujarat

Author(s): Chimanlal Bhailal Sheth
Publisher: Godiji Jain Temple Mumbai

Page 14

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XII)
With the foundation of Anahilavada by Vanaraja Chavado, Jainism received a great impetus. Vanaraja who was sheltered by a Jain monk in his days of adversity, built a temple to Panchasara Parsvanstha in Anahılavāda. Champo and Lahira were some Jain ministers of the Chāvadās.
Vimala Shah, the famous temple builder, was a Dandanayaka of Bhima I, popularly known as Bhima Bānāvali, Karna, the successor of Bhima I, continued his patronage to Jainism and made grants of land to some Jain temples.
In matters of religion, the kings of Gujarata were very tolerant. Though most of them were not Jains, they thought it their duty to patronize Jainism as it was embraced by an influential section of their subjects. Thus Jainism was patronized by the Maitrakas of Valabhi and the Chavadas, Solankis and Vaghelas of Anahilavada.
In the following pages, I have given a brief account of the activities of the Jains in different fields and their contribution to the cultural life of Gujarat in the mediaeval period (i. e. roughly between 1100 A. D. and 1600 A. D.).