Sambodhi 2005 Vol 28

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, K M Patel
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 49

MAHĀVĪRA OF SATYAPURA IN HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE
M. A. DHAKY
Satyapura (Pkt. and Apbh. Saccaür/Saccur, currently Sācor or Sāṁcor) in south-western Rajasthan was a town famous in medieval western India on account of its temple to Jina Mahāvīra and of pre-medieval founding, Sācor is situated to the southwest of Arbūda-parvata, Mt. Ābu. The town is situated at the south-western end of a line running roughly parallel to the longer NE-SW lie of Mt. Ābu, along which are located two other important ancient towns, namely Jābālipura/(Jālor) and Bhillamāla (Bhinnamāla, Śrimāla), while Brahmāna (Varmān), likewise a township of pre-medieval founding, lies easterly to the mountain.
Jinaprabha sūri of Kharatara-gaccha devoted a kalpa on the history of the tīrtha of 'Saccuri-mandana Vira,' namely the "Satyapura-kalpa" in his well-known work, the Kalapradīpa, completed in A. D. 1333!. At the outset, he locates Satyapura in Marumandala?; however, an earlier writer, Siddhasena sūri (whose sobriquet was Sadhāranāńka), in his Sakalatirtha-stotra (c. 3rd quarter of the 11th cent. A. D.), places Sācor in the Paścimadeśa“, or westerly lying country subjacent to ancient Gurjaradeśa within whose territorial limits he includes such tīrthas as Palli (Pāli), Sanderaka (Sāņderāv), Nāņā (Nānā), Koranța (Pkt. Koriņķa; now Kortā), and Bhillamāla'; while Marumandala, in his perception, was further up northwards wherein he places Ukeśa (Pkt. Uvaësa, now Osiāṁ), Kirātakūpa (Pkt. Kirādaü, presently Kirādu) and Jayapur6. Jinaprabha sūri's statement, then, must be viewed in relation to the understanding of the regional geography as it obtained in his own times (late 13th, early 14 cent.) when the entire tract to the west, north-west, and immediately south of Mt. Ābu virtually was included in Marumandala, as is the fact today as well?. Before A. D. 995, Caulukya (Solankī) Mülarāja I had wrested Satyapura-mandala (as it then was called) from the Paramārass and annexed it to his principality of Sarasvata-mandala and thus laid down the foundations of the Solanki monarchy of Anahillapātaka (Pātan).