Jainism in India

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 90

JAINISM IN INDIA
Surendrakirti. Under the advice of the same Bhattaraka, he installed hundreds of images at Jaipur in 1804. Bakhata Ram, another Dewan of Jagat Simha, erected the Jaina temple of Yasodanandaji at Jaipur.
Among the smaller cities of Jaipur State where Jainism held important place, worthy of note are Jobanera, Malapura, Revasa, Caksu, Todaraisingh, Vairath where the feudatories were the patrons. Scriptures were copied at these places, images were installed and temples erected.
Jainism in Alwar-Jaina images of the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. have been found from the Alwar State. They indicate in a sense the antiquity of Jainism in this state. More authentic evidence is however available from the 15th and 16th centuries and these may fall into three classes. In the first place, Alwar is held to be one of the Jaina sacred places by dint of the fact that the Demon king Ravana had, as per myth, worshipped the Parsva Jina at this place. The evidence is based on sacred lores. Secondly, Alwar finds mention in Jaina literature like Maun Ekādaśī (1567) hy Sadhukirti, Vidagdha-muk ha-mandana-vrtti (1642) by Siva Candra, Derakumara Caupăi (1625) by Lal Candra and Mahipāla Caupāi (1821) by Vinaya Candra, Hamsadüta and Laghușamgrahatrayi was written in 1543 A.D. and Laghukşetrasamāsa in 1546 A.D., both being sacred texts. The 16th century inscriptions too make mention of this place. In 1531, as per one inscription, one śrāvaka at Alwar installed one image of Sumatinatha. Another dated 1628 mentions of a Ravana-Parsi anatha temple at Alwar,