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CHAPTER 16
DISTIGUISHED PEOPLE OF HALAR
During the foundation ceremony of the city of Jamnagar three iron pins (dowel rods) were inserted in the ground. At the site of the first pin the royal fort was built. At the site of the second pin the house for the mayor was built and at the site of the third pin house for the Mukim family was built. The Mukim family was appointed as the royal tax collectors.
The mayors were mostly from Visa Shrimal, Visa Oshwal or other rich merchants. The Bhansali brothers Anand and Abaji Seth were among the first mayors of the city. The most glorious period of Halar was during seventeenth century. The credit goes to three people.
Rajshi Tejshi Shah: Rajshi Shah was of the Nagda gotra. He was descendant of Udill son of King Mohan Singh and grandson of Bhoja Shah. Bhoja Shah moved from Cutchh to Jamnagar in Vikram Samvat 1596 and started a business.
His father Tejshi Shah in 1624 built the Jaina Temple for Lord Shantinath at the cost of two hundred thousand gold coins. This is the oldest Jaina Temple in Jamnagar. In 1645 the Sultan of Ahmedabad attacked Jamnagar and destroyed this temple. Tejshi Shah with his family moved back to Cutchh. In 1648 when battle was over and there was peace, they returned to Jamnagar restored the temple and installed a new image of Lord Shantinath. Soon after that Tejshi Shah passed away.
During the battle of 1648 the ruler Jam Sataji ended up spending almost all his money and Rajshi Shah, like Bhama Shah came to his aid and gave money to the ruler.
