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188
The Unknown Pilgrims
Thus, between 1304 and 1555 certain names of sādhvis who were fortunate enough to make this pilgrimage are known to us, and it is probable that many others, of whom we have no trace, ascended the Holy Mountain, for certainly the presence of eminent munis and śrăvakas would be required for the engraving of an inscription to be commissioned what is of greatest possible interest is to note, in the period following the Mathură inscriptions of the very first centuries, the vitality and continuing existence of the caturvidhasamgha, witnessing as it does to a common faith, a common form of worship and very close bonds existing between the members.
When we are considering Jaina activity in Rājasthāna and Gujarāta, we find that not only did they build temples, go on pilgrimage, teach the doctrine, write and re-copy treatises and commentaries, but also they adorned these manuscripts with coloured illustrations. The bhandāras preserve illustrated manuscripts made out of palm-leaves and, in particular, manuscripts richly adorned with miniatures, as well as paintings on fabric which belong to a period from the XIIth to the XVIth century. Munis and sādhvis are to be seen in these miniatures, depicted, as a rule, preaching the doctrine.150 One miniature, painted on wood and probably dating from the middle of the XIIth century, shows some sādhvis in their upăśraya venerating the sthāpanācārya.151 Pravartini Vimalamati is seated on a stool facing two of her disciples, Sãdhvis Nayasri and Nayamati; behind her a śrāvikā, Nandisira, is seated on the ground. 152
Among well-known sādhvis we must make mention also of Sādhvi Sumalā who, towards the end of the XIIth century, taught Jaina doctrine to Queen Jayatallādevi of Madapāța and Citrakūța.153
150 Cf. K.C. Jain, 1963, p. 144.
151 Cf. P 481.
152 Cf. Nāhaļā, 1971, pp. 55-56; the miniature is kept in Bikānera, in the collection of S. Nāhață.
133 Cf. K.C. Jain, ibid., pp. 29-30; this fact is reported in an inscr. of which the exact date is not given.
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