Hastpratni Prashasti Ma Prapta Nagro Ke Gamo Angeni Aetihasik Samagri

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text:

The book, "Hastpratni Prashasti ma Prapta Nagro ke Gamo Angeni Aetihasik Samagri" (Historical Material Regarding Cities and Villages Found in Manuscript Inscriptions) by Kanubhai V. Sheth, published by ZZ_Anusandhan, focuses on the historical information embedded within the prashastis (inscriptions or eulogies) found at the end of Jain manuscripts.

Key Points from the Text:

• Gujarat's Rich Manuscript Heritage: Gujarat possesses a significant treasure trove of manuscripts, with millions preserved. These manuscripts span from the 10th to the 20th centuries, initially written on palm leaves and later on paper.

• Languages and Authorship: The manuscripts are written in various languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa, and Old Gujarati-Rajasthani. A significant portion of this ancient and medieval literature was created and preserved by Jain monks.

• Monastic Life and Manuscript Creation: Jain monks would typically settle in one place during the rainy season and travel for religious preaching at other times. During these periods, they would either compose new works or copy existing ones. The location and date of the creation or copying of these manuscripts were often noted at the end of the work or in the prashasti.

• Historical Significance of Prashastis: These prashastis provide valuable historical insights, often mentioning:

  • Dates: Year (Sambat/Vikram Samvat), lunar phase (paksha), date (tithi), day of the week (vaar), and sometimes seasons.
  • Locations: Names of cities and villages across India.
  • Regions: The geographical region where these places were located.
  • Rulers: The names of the kings or rulers of those cities or regions.
  • Existence: Confirmation of the existence of these cities and villages at specific times.

• Prominent Centers of Manuscript Activity: Certain cities were particularly active centers for the creation and copying of manuscripts. These include:

  • Patan: (Mentioned as Shri Anahil Pattana)
  • Stambhathirtha (Khambhat/Cambay): (Mentioned as Sthambha Tirtha)
  • Ahmedabad: (Mentioned as Shri Nawanagare)
  • Jaisalmer:

• Long-Term Existence: The mentions of these cities in prashastis spanning from ancient times to the present day indicate their long-term historical existence.

• Evolution of Place Names: The prashastis also offer date-wise information about the names by which certain cities were known. Examples include:

  • Kapadvanj: Known as Karpatavanijya.
  • Khambhat: Known as Sthambhatirtha.
  • Vadodara: Known as Vatapadra.

• Specific Examples of Prashasti Entries: The text provides several concrete examples of prashastis and the historical details they contain:

  • Example 1: Dated Sambat 1492, mentioning Patan under the rule of Sultan Shri Ahmed Begada.
  • Example 2: Dated Sambat 1513, mentioning Anahilpur Pattana under the rule of Shri Kutubvijay.
  • Example 3: Dated Sambat 1549, mentioning Mandapam (likely Mandavi or a similar place) under the rule of Sultan Giyas Shah.
  • Example 4: Dated Sambat 1699, mentioning Shri Nawanagare (likely Ahmedabad) under the rule of Jam Shri Lakha.
  • Example 5: Dated Sambat 1580, mentioning Shri Sojatinagari under the rule of Shri Viramdev.
  • Example 6: Dated Sambat 1684, mentioning Sthanesvara (Thanesar) near Kurukshetra under the rule of Shah Salim Jahangir.
  • Example 7: Dated Sambat 1667, mentioning Dhallu Sthan (likely Delhi) under the rule of Sultan Jalal-ud-din Akbar.

• Mentions of Ancient City Names: The text highlights specific instances where ancient names of cities are recorded:

  • Kapadvanj: Mentioned as Karpatavanijya in Sambat 1480 and 1677.
  • Mehsana: Mentioned as Shri Mahishanpur in Sambat 1509.
  • Vadodara: Mentioned as Vatapadra in Sambat 1649.
  • Surat: Mentioned as Suryapur in Sambat 1766.
  • Khambhat: Mentioned as Shri Sthambhatirtha in Sambat 1618 and 1479.

• Mentions of Calamities: One inscription from Sambat 1687 mentions a great famine in the Gurjar country, resulting in the collection of ashes of the deceased in Shri Pattana.

• Collections of Prashastis: The book notes that there are several compilations of such prashastis, including those edited by Muni Jinavijayji, Amrutlal Shah, Bhujbali Shastri, Parmanand Shastri, and Kasturchand Kasliwal. It also points out that similar historical material can be found in collections of epigraphs (stone and metal inscriptions).

In essence, the book underscores the immense historical value of prashastis found in Jain manuscripts, serving as a vital source for understanding the geography, chronology, political landscape, and linguistic evolution of ancient and medieval India, with a particular focus on Gujarat.