Sambodhi 2018 Vol 41

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 78

Vol. XLI, 2018
The Jains in Ahmedabad
Jain temples in Ahmedabad :
Though Jains were intelligent businessmen and gained good position in politics, they were faithfully devoted to their religion. The preaching of Jain Sadhus, spiritual attitude and religious traditions made such an impact on them that they built best Jain temples wherever they settled in Ahmeda According to references in Chaityaparipati of Lalitsagar, there were temples inside the city and in the suburban area. These temples were damaged and destroyed by nature as well as man, but were also restored again and again. In spite of many foreign attacks, the statues of these temples were protected. Some temples got buried after horrible earthquake. Hence, even today many Jain statues are found during the excavation works in Ahmedabad. In 1662 A.D., there were many Jain temples in Ahmedabad.
During Mogul rule, Aurangzeb invaded Ahmedabad and dismantled many Jain temples in the city. In this invasion, many temples situated in suburban area must have been broken down as there was not a single mention of suburban Jain temple in Chaityaparipati, written in 1821. Today, most of the temples inside the city are existent, whereas those located outside the city were destroyed later on.
At present, there are 450 Jain temples in Ahmedabad. However, houses of all the Shravaks did not have space for house temples, so temples were constructed by Jain Sanghs. There are around 350 Jain temples existent in Ahmedabad. The city nowadays, is expanding in the west of the river and Jain temples have been or are being erected almost in all the areas. These Jain temples have stone and metal statues. There are 4500 statues of stone and 7000 of metal. From the scriptures on these statues, it seems that they were created during the last thousand years.
Shwetambar Tradition :
Around 250 years after the death of Mahavir, Jain Sadhus were divided into two sects: Shwetambar and Digambar. Sadhus of Shwetambar sect put on white clothes and the Digambar remained undressed. In subsequent times, there was not any notable division in Shwetambar and Digambar sects. There are few references of some divisions several sects. Main divisions of the Shwetambar sect are 1.Tapagachchh, 2. Khartar-gachchh, 3. Achalgachchh, 4. Paychandgachchh, 5.Pamchandgachchh and 6. Vimal-gachchh. In 11th century, Khartargachchh split from Tapagachchh. Then Sadhus of Achalgachchh and Paychandgachchh also separated themselves from Tapagachchh. There are