Ramagiri in Jaina Literature

Author(s): V V Mirashi
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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RAMAGIRI IN JAINA LITERATURE : 129 Tirthankaras on the hill of Ramtek. But there were evidently some in the vicinity of Ramtek. A huge and beautiful image of santinatha about 15 ft. in height, was discovered some years ago in the vicinity of Ramtek and has now been installed in a magnificent temple erected by the munificence of the Jaina community at Ramtek. In the same temple are also installed the images of the Tirthankaras Parsvanatha and Candraprabha. Ramtek has been known as a sacred place from very early times. There are several temples of Hindu gods and goddesses on the hill of Ramtek. On one of the off-shoots of the hill there is a cave known from very early times as the cave of Nagarjuna. At Mansar, which lies in the vicinity of Ramtek, there are remnants of a Buddhist Vihara. Its Jaina images have been mentioned above. The place was thus regarded as sacred by the followers of all the three great religions, Hindu, Bauddha and Jaina. The description of Ramagiri in the Paumacariya, on the other hand, definitely goes against the identification of Ramgarh with Ramagiri of Kalidasa's Meghaduta, for, firstly, there are no remains or vestiges of Jaina temples on or in the vicinity of Ramgarh and, secondly, there is no evidence that Ramgarh lay to the north of ancient Dandakaranya. JE U how G.J.V. 9