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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
73 were patronised by the jains. They are not jains but due to their profound selfless service and religiousity towards jain religion they were accepted in to it.
They are addressed sometimes as Matheran which has an adverse connotation being the illiegitimate progeny of the jain yatis. However, according to a new theory, it is said that they originated in Gujarat some 500 years ago and then dispursed in Rajasthan in search of patronage and finally settled in Bikaner/Marwar area in the 18th century. At a later date, they undertook writing and painting works for the Hindus also and produced some excellent illustrated MSS. Some of them were proficient in education, Ayurveda, Tantra/Mantra while some oswal jains had made them their gurus and their children learnt hand writing from the Mathen scribes.
Today the Mathern community has spread all over India and has compiled a comprehensive list of their community members.
Sharma(1993) writing about the work of this category of painters and artisans calls it a native style that grew
3. Niranjan Vyas - Rajasthan Vishwa Vidyalaya Jaipur. unpublished Thesis. 4. K. C. Sharma Vaichariki (Hindi) Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Shrdha · Pratisthan, Bikaner. Vols 3-4 : p. 1 to 4.
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