Girnarna Navprasiddh Lekhpar Drushtipat - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Girnarna Navprasiddh Lekhpar Drushtipat" by M. A. Dhaky, based on the provided PDF content:

Title: Girnarna Navprasiddh Lekhpar Drushtipat (A Look at a Newly Famous Inscription of Girnar) Author: M. A. Dhaky

Overview: This article by M. A. Dhaky delves into a newly discovered inscription found on Girnar mountain. Dhaky builds upon the work of Shri Chh. Atri, who had previously published three lesser-known inscriptions from Girnar. Dhaky focuses on the second inscription published by Atri, a small eulogistic inscription, which despite being fragmented, holds significant importance due to its internal details. The inscription fragment, along with images found at the same location, is currently preserved in the Junagadh State Museum.

Purpose and Content of the Inscription: The inscription appears to record the consecration of an image of Lord Neminath by two individuals named Kheda and Ladh (followers of Jainism) at Girnar in Samvat 1299 / 1243 CE. It also documents other good deeds performed by them in conjunction with this consecration.

Key Details from the Inscription:

Date: Samvat 1299 (1243 CE), Phalguna Sudhi Tritiya (the third day of the waxing moon in the month of Phalguna).
Location: Shri Ujjayant Mahatirtha (Girnar).
Temple: Shri Vastupal Vihar.
Action: Sahu Kheda and Sahu Ladh, under the instruction of Mahamatya Shri Tejpal, commissioned the image of Shri Neminath along with a "khattak" (alcove/niche).
Consecration: The image was consecrated by Shri Vijaysensuri.
Other Good Deeds:
- An image of Shri Adinath, along with a devakulika (shrine) and dandakalasha (a specific type of finial), was established at Shri Shatrunjay Mahatirtha.
- An image of Shri Mahavir, with a "khattak," was established in the "Shri Sachaur Devkul" (temple of Satyapuramandana Mahavir) within the present tirth (Girnar), which was built by Mahamatya Shri Vastupal.
- On the platform (jagati) of the Shri Neminath Chaitya built by Shri Tejpal at Shri Arbudaachal (Mount Abu), two devakulikas with six images each, complete with their surrounding structures (parikar), were made.
- On the platform of the Shri Parshvanath Dev Chaitya in Jabalipur (Jalor), a devakulika with an image of Shri Rishabhnath was constructed.
- In Vijapur, a devakulika with an image of Shri Neminath and a dandakalasha was built.
Fragmentary End: The concluding, damaged part of the inscription contains proper nouns that initially suggest they might be the names of the families of the artisans (karapakas).

Identification of Kheda and Ladh: A significant portion of the article is dedicated to identifying Kheda and Ladh. Dhaky establishes their identity by comparing the inscription's details with inscriptions found at the Lonasahi (Lunavasa) temple complex on Mount Abu.

Varahudiya Family: Inscriptions at Lonasahi (specifically at Devakulika 38 and 39, dated Samvat 1291 / 1235 CE) mention the Varahudiya (or Varahudiya) lineage, tracing back to a merchant named Varudev from Nagpur.
Genealogy: The inscriptions reveal that Kheda was the son of Sahadev, and Sahadev was one of the four sons of Sahu Nemad. Sahadev's brother was Rahad, who had four sons, including Dhanesar and Ladhad. This means Kheda and Ladhad were cousins.
Confirmation: A larger inscription from Samvat 1296 / 1240 CE at Devakulika 38 on Abu provides a detailed list of good deeds performed by the Varahudiya family, which remarkably aligns with the Girnar inscription's details regarding Shatrunjaya, Arbudaachal, Jabalipur, and Vijapur.
Conclusive Evidence: The names Kheda, Dhaneshwar (Dhanesar), and Ladhad appear in both the Girnar inscription and the Abu inscriptions, establishing a clear connection. The Abu inscriptions clarify that Dhaneshwar and Ladhad were brothers, and Kheda was the son of their uncle Sahadev.

Analysis of the Varahudiya Family: Based on their charitable activities, Dhaky infers that the Varahudiya family was not excessively wealthy but was prosperous, ethical, devout, and held a respected position within the Jain community and the merchant class. Their involvement as "Sanghavis" (leaders of religious expeditions) indicates their prominent standing.

Relationship with Vastupal and Tejpal: The article explores the connection between the Varahudiya family and the renowned ministers Vastupal and Tejpal.

Shared Benefactor: It's suggested that Kheda and Ladh may have been related to, friends of, or beneficiaries of Tejpal. Tejpal, as the Mahamatya, likely instructed them to establish the image in the Vastupal Vihar on Girnar.
Caste Difference: While Vastupal and Tejpal belonged to the Pragvat caste, the Varahudiyas (according to a grath-prasasti) belonged to the Pallival caste. This makes a marital relationship unlikely.
Patronage: Tejpal, holding the position of Mahamatya, was highly respected. Many of the 43 devakulikas in the Lonasahi temple were commissioned by his relatives and friends, including prominent merchants from Chandravati. The Varahudiya family was likely included among these select associates due to a strong relationship of affection and perhaps their leading role in religious activities and devotion to Vijaysensuri.

Scholarly Observations on the Inscription's Language and Content (Dhaky's Commentary on Atri's Work): Dhaky engages with Atri's linguistic observations and offers his own interpretations and corrections:

Use of Locative Case: Dhaky agrees with Atri that the use of the locative case (saptami vibhakti) in places like "Ujjayant Mahatirtha," "Shatrunjaye," and "Arbudachale" indicates the specific locations where the installations were made. This contrasts with the earlier inscriptions mentioning "Shatrunjayavtar" or "Stambhanakpurvtar" as epithets for Rishabhnath and Parshvanath respectively, whose establishments were primarily within the Vastupal Vihar.
Vastupal's Constructions: Dhaky clarifies that while the inscription mentions constructions by Vastupal, it doesn't imply all these were built by him. For instance, the Parshvanath temple in Jabalipur was built by King Kumarapala, not Vastupal or Tejpal. Therefore, the statement that the Girnar inscription "maintains a brief memory of the constructions made by the ministers at various places" is not entirely accurate.
Temple Differentiation: Dhaky disputes the implication that all constructions mentioned in earlier, contemporary inscriptions were consolidated under the single name "Vastupal Vihar." He cites earlier inscriptions that clearly differentiate between the temples of Adinath, Ashtapad, Sammeta Shikhar, and the temple of Kapardi-Yaksha, all built by Vastupal, indicating they were separate structures, not merely parts of the Vastupal Vihar.
"Avatar" Temples: Dhaky discusses the concept of "avatar" temples, where temples were dedicated to deities of famous existing tirthas. He notes that the practice existed before Vastupal. He provides examples like the mention of a temple at Nadlai being called "Ujjayant Tirtha" and a temple in Karnataka being named "Abhinav Kolhapur." However, he argues that places like Abu, Jabalipur, and Vijapur were not as prominent in that era, making the idea of building "avatar" temples for them less likely, unless Vastupal himself commissioned them.
Omissions in Other Inscriptions: Dhaky addresses why certain places mentioned in the Girnar inscription (like Stambhanakpur and Kashmir) are omitted in earlier inscriptions. He posits that the Varahudiya family might not have contributed to Vastupal's constructions in Kashmir, thus their omission. Regarding the absence of "Arbudavtar," "Jabalipuravtar," and "Vijapuravtar" in earlier inscriptions, he suggests it's because Vastupal might not have built "avatar" temples for these places or that such temples were not constructed by anyone else.

Conclusion: The newly discovered inscription from Girnar, though not directly related to Vastupal and Tejpal's own constructions, is significant as it sheds light on a prominent Jain family, the Varahudiyas, who were contemporaries and active in religious patronage during that era. It adds valuable information to the corpus of historical Jain inscriptions from Gujarat, similar to recent discoveries from Shatrunjaya. The inscription details the good deeds of Kheda and Ladh, attributing them to the Varahudiya family, and connects them to the renowned ministers Vastupal and Tejpal through their patronage.