Tulsi Prajna 1997 07

Author(s): Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 130

59
Vol. XXIII, No. 2 (3) The name of the ruling prince is generally not recorded. But
there are cascs also when these names have been mentioned. (4) Details regarding the families of the Jain Shresthis, who had the
icon installed, are given. (5) The names of Jain ascetics, under whose instructions the icon
was set up and who consecrated it are also recorded. (6) Some times the names of the Sutradhār, who had carved the icon,
are also given.
On bronzes, the inscriptions are mostly found on the reverse side. Due to lack of space, abbreviations have sometimes been used for common works like Shresthi, Vyavahari, Vastayya, Upakeeh, Gachchha and others. Inscriptions pertaining to grants and endowments :
Grants and donations were made for maintenance of Jain shrines and for performance of certain religious rites and celebrations, not only by Jain Shresthis, but also by ruling families and other officials. These grants can be broadly divided into two classes (i) Lengthy-Prashastis and (ii) fragmentary records mentioning a grant. The grants made by a ruling family were generally termed "Surah”. The word "Surah" is derived from "Surabhi" (kāmdhenu the divine cow that grants desires), which become a distinctive emblem of the royal charitable grants engraved on stone. The figures of Sun and Moon are carved on its top and cow and calf at its end. These were the emblems of religious endowments, which were supposed to have been made for all times to come till the Sun and Moon shines in the sky. The draft of the Surah or grants generally conta following items : (i) The date and year of the grant, which was either given in the
beginning or recorded at the end of the inscriptions. (ii) The name and antecedents of the granter. In case he was not
the ruling prince, the name of the latter was also mentioned. (iii) Purpose of endowment was always specia fically recorded. In
medieval Jain inscriptions we find following common purposes for donations : (a) Management and maintenance of temple including the
supply of material for 18 daily worship of the deity. (b) Rathayātrāla (c) Other celebrations15 like Asthānikā, Kalyānika-parva. Annual
celebrations (Varsha-Granthi) and others. (d) Minor-works-like supply of oil for lamps incensel6 apd
others. (©) Exemption on levy of taxes17 from piligrims coming to visit