Some Inscriptions and Images on Mount Satrunjaya

Author(s): Ambalal P Shah
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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SOME INSCRIPTIONS AND IMAGES ON MOUNT SATRUNJAYA: 167
(४) संवत् १४९४ वर्षे बैशापमु० १० गुरौ संघपति- देशलसुतसमरा तत्पत्नीगुगां सा०सालिंग सा० सज्जन सिंहाभ्यां कारितं प्रतिष्ठितं भीककसूरिशिष्यैः भ०देवगुप्तसूरिभिः । शुभं भवतु ॥
Fig. 5 shows a part of a beautiful metal sculpture representing one figure of a Jina in the centre, and two smaller Jina-figures on two sides above the halo of the bigger Jina. A two-armed Kubera-like Yaksa sits on a lotus to the right of the main figure, while on the corresponding left end we find a two-armed Yakşi Ambika sitting in the lalita-posture. There is no inscription on this image, but on stylistic grounds it can be assigned to c. tenth century A.D. or a little earlier.
Unfortunately the present whereabouts of the bronze known, but the present writer had once seen it in one of the temples on Mt. Satruñjaya. A new photograph of the whole figure is thus not possible and only this photograph of a part of it, obtained from the Sheth Anandji Kalyanji's Pedhi, Ahmedabad, is reproduced here. It will however be seen that the bronze is a beautiful specimen of metal sculpture in Western India.
We have noted above four inscriptions from this site. A few more. inscriptions ranging from V. S. 1207 to c. 1405 A. D. are noted below.
Inscription no. 5 is on a metal image in Shrine No. 302 situated on the left side of the chief gate of the main temple of the Caumukha Tunk. The inscription reads as under:
(५) श्री सिद्धहेमकुमार सं० ४ वैशापव २ गुरौ भीमपल्लीसल्क (१गच्छ) व्यव०हरिश्चंद्रभार्यागुणदे विधेयोर्थ श्रीशांतिनाथबिंबं कारितं ॥
According to this inscription, this image of Sri Santinatha was installed for the spiritual benefit of Gupadevi, wife of merchant Hariścandra belonging to the Bhimapalli-gaccha. The image was consecrated on Thursday the 2nd day of the dark fortnight of the month. of Vaisakha in the year 4 of the Siddha-Hema-Kumara Samvat.
This is a very important inscription, first noticed by Muni Sri Punyavijaya and published by him in the Jaina Satya Prakása, Vol. VIII, No. 1 (Ahmedabad, 1943), pp. 259-261. The metal image must be very carefully preserved, being the only known inscriptional evidence of the Siddha-Hema-Kumara Era.
Three great personalities of the history of Gujarat are associated in the name of this Samvat (Era). One is Siddharaja Jayasimha, the second is Acarya Hemacandra and the third is king Kumarapala of Anahillapura-Patan. The era seems to have started with the death of