Some Early Jaina Temples in Western India

Author(s): M A Dhaky
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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294 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
existed in 859 as reported by Jayasimhasūri in his Dharmopadeśavivaranamála-v?tti. Jayasimhasūri's master, Krsnarşi, seems to have founded a temple in the fort of Nagaur.12
To the resurgent Jainism, from eighth century onwards, the kings, princes, and chieftains of various Western Indian dynasties were favourably disposed, some even extended positive patronage which included acceptance of Jainism as a personal faith. Vanarāja Capotkața we mentioned in the foregoing discussions. There was one Prince Raghusena of an unknown dynasty, who founded a Jina-bhavana at Ramasainyapura (Ramsen) in North-west Gujarat some time in the second quarter of tenth century. More important instances are known from the Imperial Caulukyas (Solankis) of Anhilapāțaka. King Mūlarāja I (942-995) founded, it would seem, Mülavasatikā Prāsāda for the Digambara sect and a temple sacred to Mülanāthajinadeva for the Svetāmbara Church at Anhilapätaka. His successors Cāmundarāja as well as Durlabharāja respected Jainism. In the capacity of heir apparent, Cāmunda had made a grant to the Jaina temple at Varuņaśarmaka (Vadasama) in 977. Bhimadeva I (1022-64) held learned Jaina monks in high esteem. Surācārya and Säntisūri rallied beside the throne in the battle of wits betwen Mālava and Gujarat. Bhimadeva's son and successor Karnadeva (1064–95) was also generous to the Jainas. He granted land to the temple of Jina Sumatinātha at Takavavi or Tākovi (Takodi) in 1084. His son and successor Jayasimha Siddharāja (1095-1144) made a further grant, presumably to the same Sumatinātha temple, in 1100. But Siddharāja did more than that for the Jainas. By about 1127 he founded Rājavihāra at Aṇhilapāțaka and Siddhavihāra (c. 1140) at Kristhala or Siddhapura (Sidpur). Out of all Solanki monarchs, Emperor Kumārapāla (1144-74), under the influence of Hemacandra, showed the highest leanings to Jainism and displayed as much zeal in founding Jaina temples, each example being styled after him as Kumāravihāra. The Kumāravihāras were erected at all important Jaina centres distributed between Jābālipura and Prabhāsa.
In Rajasthan, the facts almost compliment those known from Gujarat. The Imperial Gurjara-Pratīhāras as well as the Pratihāras of Maddodara-Medāntaka (Mandor-Medta) branch were zealous for Jainism. Pratīhāra Nāgabhatta I founded Yaksavasati Prāsāda at Jābālipura, his capital, in honour of his guru Yakşadattagaņi whom we referred to a short while ago. The sanctuary of Mahāvīra
12 From Krsnarşi sprang a gaccha bearing his name.