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Jaioa Epigraphy-2
CLASSIFICATION OF JAIN INSCRIPTIONS OF
RAJASTHAN
Ram Vallabh Somani
Jainism has remained a popular religion in Rajasthan, since an early age. But it has a few early fregmentary Jain epigraphs, whose Jain identity itself is doutful. However a large number of Jain inscriptions from the 10th to 17th centuries A.D. are known fro various parts of the state. Thus the Corpus of the inscriptions is very important for studying the socio-economic and political history of the medieval Rajasthan.
Categories of the inscriptions :
The Jain inscriptions of Rajasthan provide a rich and valuable source for study of history. They may be classified into the following categories : (i) Inscriptions pertaining to construction and renovation of
temples including consecration of the icons. (ii) Grants made for maintenance of temples together with arrange
ments of certain celebrations. (iii) Historical Jain inscriptions. (iv) Inscriptions pertaining to pilgrimages (Sangha Yātra) etc.
(v) Others, Inscriptions pertaining to constructions of temples :
The Jain inscriptions throw interesting light on the history of various architectural sites. Sometimes temples were badly destroyed by the invading forces of the Muslim Sultans causing renovation of old statues and installation of new icons in the temples necessary. Muhammad Ghori, who invaded westerol Rajasthan in V.E 1234 (1178 AD) and Sapadalaksa2 in V.E. 1248 (1192 A.D.), destroyed several temples. Alauddin Khilji's forces brutally devastated the Jain temples of Mungathalas, Jiravala, Abu5, Chittore, Ranathambhor, Jalore? and other places. Some temples were completely demolished. Their details can only be known from the epigraphical fragments and dismembered parts that survive. At Chittor, several inscribed stones were found studded in the Gambhiri-river, bridge
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