Jainism in Rajasthan

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II HISTORICAL ROLE OF JAINISM
from the Brahmanical 'as their religion. There is a chasteness and simplicity in this specimen of monotheistic worship, affording a wide contrast to the elaborately sculptured shrines of the Saivas and other polytheists of India. The extreme want of decoration best attests its antiquity, entitling us to attribute it to that period when Samprati Rājā, of the family of Chandragupta; was paramount sovereign over all these regions. The proportions and forms of the columns are especially distinct from the other temples, being slight and tapering instead of massive, the general characteristic of Hindu architecture, while the projecting cornices which would absolutely deform shafts less slight are peculiarly indicative of the Takshac architect."1
Dr. BHANDARKAR contends that ToD is wiong in ascribing this temple to the second century BC. It is quite improbable that the Jaipa temple may have been designed by Grecian artists or that the taste of the artists among the Rājaputs may have been modelled after the Grecian. It appears to have been left in an unfinished condition. Tod however is quite wrong in ascribing this temple to 200 B.C. The style of its pillars closely resembles that of Tejapāla's temple at Delavādā on mount Ābu. The construction of this temple cannot be possibly placed earlier than the 13th century AD and was probably later even than this. Any how, the local people believed that it was extremely old.
At Nādalāi there is a Jaina temple dedicated to Ādinātha. On the seat of the image is engraved an inscription dated v. S. 1686 which speaks of its being rebuilt by the whole Jaina community of Nādalāi. The temple was originally erected by Samprati.3 In the 17th century, the Jainas at Nädalāı believed that the temple was built by Sampratı; so there was an old tradition to this effect.
Besides this, Samprati took other steps for the propagation of Jainism. From the Jaina books,+ we know that he started a Sangha fiom Ujjain to Satrunjaya in the company of Suhasti with sooo śramanas. This Sangha must have passed through southern Rajasthan. He is also said to have convoked a council for the propagation of Jaina religion under Suhasti. He sent out religious teachers for the propagation of Jainism.
1 Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol. 2, pp. 779_780 2. PRAS WC, 1901 p 41
3 NJL, Vol 1. No. 856. 4 Bhagavān Pārsvanātha kī Paramparā hū Itihūsa, pp 289—290.