________________
introduction
xciit of Srīmāla.' According to this there were 1000 Gaņāpatis, 4000 Kshetrapālas, 84 Chandikā Devis, 1000 lakes, 11000 Sivalingas, 999 principal temples and 18000 Durgā – temples.
There were 4000 Brahmaşālas and 8000 shops, and 1000 assemblies.
The city had 84 gatest in the wall fortifying it.*
Those vaishyas who stayed in the eastern part of the city were known as Prāgvātas, in the southern as Dhanotkatas and in the western and northern as Srimālins.
We find corroboration for this account from the description given by Yuan - Chang. According to him “Pi - 1o - mo-lo is 30 li or so round” that is, about six miles; "the population is dense, the establishments are rich ( well ) supplied with materials.” Prabhāchandrasurī the author of the Prabhāvakacharita (V. S. 1334 A. D. 1278) describes this magnificent city as follows:
"In Gurjaradesa or Gurjaraland which is the abode of perennial wealth there is a city called Şrīmāla which is like the face of the earth damsel. The rows of the kumbhas on its temples appear like jewels on the city's crest. It is adorned with magnificent palaces
+ Adhyāya 71. The Purāna gives the figures about the population of the city also.
*"Of its fortifications, which, as late as A. D. 1611, the Engligh merchant Nicholas Ufflet, in a journey from Jbalor to Ahmedabad, describes as enclosing circuit of thirty-six miles ( 24 kosa) containing many fine tanks going to the ruins, almost no trace remains." (P. G. p. 449.) X A. 13. V. 25.
प्राग्वाटा दिशि पूर्वस्यां दक्षिणस्यां धनोत्कटा । श्रीमालिनः प्रतीच्यां वै उरस्यां तथाऽविशन् ।।
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
