Jain Jatiyo Ka Udbhav Evam Vikas

This document, titled "Jain Jatiyo ka Udbhav evam Vikas" (The Origin and Development of Jain Communities) by Dr. Kailashchandra Jain, provides a historical overview of the emergence and evolution of various Jain communities (Jatiyas) in India, primarily focusing on their establishment and migration.

Here's a comprehensive summary:

Overall Mystery and Historical Timeline:

• The origin and development of Jain communities are shrouded in mystery. While traditional accounts suggest they are very ancient, concrete historical evidence of their existence only appears after the 7th century CE.
• Historically, the establishment of these communities is dated between the 8th and 13th centuries CE.

Key Jain Communities and Their Origins:

• Oswal, Shrimal, and Paliwal:

  • Around the 8th century CE, Jain monks like Ratnaprabhasuri visited places like Ossia, Shri-mal, and Pali. They converted people to Jainism, leading to the formation of the Oswal, Shrimal, and Paliwal communities, named after these locations.
  • The Oswal community saw significant growth and developed numerous clans (gotras), some named after places, individuals, or professions. One text mentions 606 Oswal gotras.
  • The Shrimal community's earliest genealogy suggests a Jain monk addressed a merchant from the Shrimal community and Bharadwaj gotra in Toda in 738 CE.
  • In 1253 CE, Deda of the Paliwal community consecrated an idol of Mallinath under the guidance of Yashobhadrasuri of the Chandragachha.

• Porwal (Pragvat):

  • The name "Porwal" appears in ancient inscriptions and texts as "Pragvat," which is the ancient name for Mewar (Medpat). It's believed that people from the Pragvat region became known as Pragvat and later Porwal.
  • An inscription from Indargarh dating to Vikram Samvat 767 (circa 710 CE) mentions daughters of a Pragvat (Kumar) named Deullika, Takshullika, and Bhoginika donating to the Ghuweshwar temple.
  • The "Parwal" community is distinct from the Porwals. Their origin is traced to Padmavati, an ancient site near Gwalior, now known as Pawayya.

• Khandelwal and Bagherwal:

  • These communities originated before the 10th century CE from Khandela and Baghera, respectively, in Rajasthan.
  • The earliest mention of the Khandel community in Rajasthan is in an inscription from 1197 CE.
  • The Khandelwal community is also mentioned in Jain idols from Ujjain dating to Vikram Samvat 1216 (circa 1159 CE) and 1308 (circa 1251 CE).
  • Pandit Ashadhar, who left Mandalgadh for Dharanagari at the end of the 12th century due to fear of Muslims, belonged to the Bagherwal community.
  • The names of Bagherwal lay followers (Shravaks) are found in a 12th-century inscription on a Jain idol in Ujjain.
  • While these communities originated in Rajasthan, some followers later migrated to Madhya Pradesh.

• Jaiswal:

  • The Jaiswal community's origin postdates the 12th century, coinciding with the establishment of Jaisalmer.

• Chittoda and Nagda:

  • In the 14th and 15th centuries, followers from Chittoda and Nagda communities consecrated numerous idols and temples.

• Communities with Kshatriya Origins:

  • Some communities were originally Kshatriyas who later adopted Jainism and integrated with the merchant (Varnik) communities.
  • The Soni-gara Chauhans, named after the Suvarnagiri mountain in Jalore fort, became known as "Soni" after embracing Jainism.
  • The Hathudiya Rathods became known as "Hathudiya Shravaks" after their conversion to Jainism.

• Agrawal:

  • According to tradition, the Agrawal community was established by Agresen in ancient times, originating from Agroha in Punjab.
  • There is no evidence of this community's existence before the 8th century CE.
  • Over time, they migrated to Rajasthan and engaged in consecrating idols and making copies of texts.

• Humbad:

  • The exact place of origin for the Humbad community is unknown, but it's likely, like other communities, to have originated from a specific location.
  • They are found in the Vagad region of Rajasthan (Dungarpur, Banswara, and Pratapgarh).
  • Their establishment also occurred after the 8th century CE.
  • They too were involved in consecrating numerous temples and idols. The famous Jain temple of Shantinath in Jhalrapatan was built by Sah Pippa of this community in 1046 CE.

• Dhakad:

  • The Dhakad community appears to have originated in Rajasthan, but their members are now found in the south.
  • Based on the phrase "Sirijpuria Thakkadkula" by Harisena, Nathuram Premi suggests their origin might be from Sironj in Tonk district.
  • Agarchand Nahata believes their origin is from Dhakadgarh, from which the Dhakad branch of the Maheshwari community emerged. He places this location near Shri-mal based on two inscriptions.

• Shri-modh:

  • This community originated from Modhera, an ancient place located south of Anhilwada in Gujarat.
  • The renowned scholar Hemchandrasuri belonged to this community.
  • Inscriptions related to this community date back to the 12th century.
  • Many Jain lay followers and Brahmins identify themselves with this community, tracing their origin to this ancient place.

In essence, the book traces the historical roots of several prominent Jain communities, highlighting their geographical origins, the approximate periods of their establishment, and their eventual spread and integration within Jain society. It emphasizes that while their traditions are ancient, documented history points to their significant development and formation primarily from the 8th century CE onwards.