Bibipur Sthit Chintamani Parshwanath Jinalayni Prashasti

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Bibipur sthit Chintamani Parshwanath Jinalayni Prashasti":

This document is an introduction and historical context for a Jain inscription (Prashasti) dedicated to the Chintamani Parshvanath Jinalay (temple) located in Bibipur. The introduction, authored by Muni Suyashchandravijay and Sujaschandravijay, serves as a historical record detailing the construction of the temple and the lineage of the patrons and the preceptor who performed its consecration.

Key Information and Historical Context:

• The Prashasti: The inscription itself was composed in Samvat 1697 by Satyasoubhagya Gani, a disciple of Shri Saubhagya of the Sagar Shaka of the Tapa Gachchha.
• Timeline Discrepancy: A notable point raised is that the temple's installation (Pratishtha) is recorded as being performed by Sheth Shantidas in Samvat 1682. This creates a 15-year gap between the installation and the composition of the Prashasti, and the text suggests the reasons for this delay might be explored.
• Additional Information: The document also includes supplementary information about Sheth Shantidas and Acharya Rajsagar Suriji, and the deity Chintamani Parshvanath, which may not be present in the original Prashasti.

Bibipur:

• The town of Bibipur is identified as being named after a mother named "Bibi." Her tomb (roza) is located near the "Dada Hari Vav."
• Bibipur was situated between Asarva and Sayyidpur (Sarsarpur), and it's possible it was connected with Sikandarpur.
• An earlier mention of Bibipur Chintamani is found in a devotional hymn (Stavan) by Purva Sahajkirti Maharaj, identifying it with Sarsarpur.
• Another hymn by Sheth Shantidas in a "Tirthmala" (pilgrimage garland) from Samvat 1682 also mentions the Chintamani Parshvanath temple installed by him.

The Deity Chintamani Parshvanath:

• In Samvat 1655, Acharya Shri Vijay Sen Suriji Maharaj and his disciples discovered a black idol of Chintamani Parshvanath by excavating land in Dhingavad.
• This deity was named Shri Vijay Chintamani Parshvanath.
• A grand temple was built in Sikandarpur, and the idol was installed by Acharya Shri Vijay Sen Suriji in Samvat 1656.

Sheth Shantidas and Temple Construction:

• Sheth Shantidas of Ahmedabad became prosperous and influential, becoming a governor (Suba) of Ahmedabad.
• Inspired by his guru, he desired to build a temple.
• The renovation and construction of the grand Jinalay began in Samvat 1678.
• The temple was a magnificent structure with six mandaps (halls), three shikharas (spires), three garbha-grihas (sanctuaries), and three chokis (galleries), along with 52 smaller shrines.
• Sheth Shantidas demonstrated foresight by building a secret tunnel from his mansion to the temple to safeguard the idols during times of invasion in the Muslim era.
• The temple was constructed by a craftsman named "Virpal" (Sompura Salate).
• The grand installation ceremony was performed in Samvat 1682 under the presidency of Mahopadeshik Vivek Harsh Gani and led by Mahopadeshik Muktisagar Gani.
• The construction cost was 9 lakh Rupees, a fact noted in a "Ras" (narrative poem) about Sheth Shantidas composed in Samvat 1870.
• A historical record from the "Amdavadno Itihas" book states the temple had 52 shrines, was built at a cost of 5-7 lakh Rupees, and while architecturally similar to the Hathi Singh temple, it faced north whereas Hathi Singh's faces west.

Historical Events and Persecution:

• In Samvat 1701, Aurangzeb demolished this Jinalay, modified it, and converted it into a mosque. This led to a major uprising in Gujarat.
• Sheth Shantidas appealed to Shah Jahan. Following an investigation, Shah Jahan ordered the construction of a new temple identical to the one from Samvat 1682, and it was reinstalled in Samvat 1705-1706.
• Later, due to Muslim aggression, Sheth's grandson, Kushalchand, arranged for the idols to be moved. Three large idols were placed in the underground chambers of the Adishwar Jinalay built in memory of Sheth Shantidas. The main idol of Chintamani Parshvanath was placed in the temple built by Sheth Surajmal in Jhaveriwad, which is now known as Chintamani Parshvanath in Vaghanpol.

External Accounts and Family Lineage:

• The document references "Raj nagar na Jinalayo" (Temples of Rajnagar) and notes the visit of a traveler named Mendelso in Samvat 1694, who described the temple's grandeur, the founder Shantidas being alive at the time, and a statue of Shantidas on an elephant at the entrance.
• A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the genealogy of Sheth Shantidas, tracing his ancestry back through the Oswal Jati, Vriddha Shakha, Kunkumloving Gotra, and Sisodiya Vansh. It lists his ancestors with details of their names and notable achievements, including Sahaskiran, Vardhaman, and Shantidas himself, along with his wives and sons.
• There are discrepancies in the recorded number of Sheth Shantidas's sons across different historical accounts (4, 5, or 6 sons), indicating the need for further scholarly investigation.

Acharya Rajsagar Suriji's Lineage:

• The text details the guru lineage of Acharya Rajsagar Suriji, starting from Acharya Anandvimal Suri, Vijaydan Suri, Heeravijay Suri, and Vijay Sen Suri.
• It highlights disputes in recorded lineage information between the Prashasti's author and "Jain Parampara no Itihas."
• The text mentions Acharya Rajsagar Suriji's disciples and their contributions, including the creation of "Rajsagar Suri Nirvan Ras."
• It notes that during a major debate, Acharya Rajsagar Suriji appointed Pandit Satyasoubhagya Gani to represent his side.

Prashasti Details (from the actual text of the inscription):

The latter part of the document presents the actual verses of the Prashasti in Sanskrit. It begins with salutations and then describes the glory of Parshvanath and the historical context, including the kings of the time (e.g., Akbar, Islamshah, Shahjahan, Aurangzeb) and the patrons (Sheth Shantidas and his brother Vardhaman). The verses detail:

• The glorious lineage of the builders and patrons.
• The construction of the magnificent temple in Bibipur.
• The details of the temple's architecture, including mandaps, shikharas, and surrounding shrines.
• The significant contributions and pious acts of Sheth Shantidas, such as renovations, charitable donations during a famine, and pilgrimages.
• The establishment of the Sagar Gachchha and the installation of Acharya Muktisagar Gani.
• The lineage of Gurus leading up to Acharya Rajsagar Suriji.

In essence, the document serves as a historical prologue to the Prashasti, providing crucial background information to understand the significance of the temple, its construction, the patron family, and the religious figures associated with it, while also highlighting historical events and potential areas for further research.