Jirndurga Junagadh Vishe

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Jirndurga Junagadh Vishe" by M. A. Dhaky:

The article "Jirndurga Junagadh Vishe" (About Jirndurga Junagadh) by M. A. Dhaky delves into the etymology and historical naming of the city of Junagadh, critically examining previous theories and presenting new evidence.

The author begins by recounting a personal anecdote from his time as curator of the Junagadh State Museum (1925-1959). A diligent watchman named Juma suggested that Junagadh was named after "Junakhan." While Dhaky didn't investigate this at the time, he later found a similar theory in a discussion by Chh. M. Atri concerning the origin of place names. Atri, in his article "Shilalekho ma Kutiyana" (Inscriptions in Kutiyana), supported Juma's viewpoint, prompting Dhaky to re-examine the origin of Junagadh's name.

Atri's Theory and Dhaky's Re-evaluation:

Dhaky first presents Atri's argument, which is based on epigraphic evidence. Atri compiled a chronological list of names associated with Junagadh. According to Atri, forms like "Jirnaprākar" and "Jirnadurga" are not the original Sanskrit names of Junagadh but rather Sanskrit translations or adaptations. Atri posits that the name "Junagadh" likely came first, and from it, Sanskritized forms like "Jirnadurga" were later created.

Atri suggests a theory from another source: that Sultan Muhammad of Gujarat, after defeating Ra'khengār IV around 1350 CE, possibly named Uparkot after his childhood name, "Juna." This name then extended to the city outside Uparkot, becoming Junagadh. Consequently, Sanskritized forms like "Jirnadurga" and "Jirnaprākar" might have become prevalent in inscriptions after 1350 CE, likely due to a perceived similarity in meaning ("old fort") and a desire to associate the name with antiquity. Before 1350 CE, names like "Ugrasengadh" and "Khengargadh" were apparently more common. Dhaky acknowledges Atri's footnote suggesting a reversal of the usual linguistic process, where "Junagadh" might have given rise to "Jirnadurga" rather than the other way around.

Dhaky's Critical Questions and Findings:

Dhaky, however, raises several crucial questions that need to be addressed before accepting Atri's conclusions:

1. Earliest Epigraphic Evidence for "Junagadh": What is the oldest attested use of the name "Junagadh" in inscriptions and literature, specifically before 1350 CE?
2. Earliest Epigraphic Evidence for "Jirnadurga": How ancient are the references to "Jirnadurga"? Was this name prevalent for Junagadh before 1350 CE?
3. Origin of "Junagadh": Did the name "Junagadh" originate from "Sultan Muhammad Juna," or is it a simplified form of "Jirnadurga"?
4. Equivalence of "Ugrasengadh"/"Khengargadh" with "Junagadh"/"Jirnadurga": Is there direct evidence to equate "Ugrasengadh" or "Khengargadh" with "Junagadh" or "Jirnadurga"?

Dhaky's Answers and New Evidence:

Dhaky then proceeds to answer these questions based on his research:

1. "Junagadh" in Literature: Dhaky states that, to his knowledge, the form "Junagadh" is not found in extant inscriptions. However, he has discovered two important literary references from vernacular literature (Old Gujarati) predating 1350 CE:

   • Vinayprabh's "Tirthamalastavan" (late 14th century): This work mentions "Junai Gadh" in the context of pilgrimage sites.
   • Jintilak Suri's "Chaityaparipati Stavan" (a century later): This work also refers to "Junaigadhi." These findings indicate that "Junagadh" was in use in vernacular language by the last quarter of the 14th century. However, since these references are after 1350 CE, they don't definitively disprove the "Sultan Muhammad Juna" theory, but they establish the earliest known literary usage of the name.

2. "Jirnadurga" Before 1350 CE: Dhaky asserts that there are indeed references to Junagadh as "Jirnadurga" from before 1350 CE. While not found in epigraphs yet, literary evidence exists, notably in Kakkasuri's "Nabhinandanjinoddhar Prabandha" (composed in 1337 CE). This work mentions "Jirnadurga" in the context of Samrasha's pilgrimage and of Siddh Soori resting there due to illness.

3. Revisiting the Etymology: Based on the evidence, Dhaky concludes that the use of "Jirnaprākar" and "Jirnadurga" in inscriptions from around 1378 CE and 1387 CE does not represent a Sanskritization of "Junagadh." Instead, it suggests that "Jirnadurga" was the actual, original Sanskrit name of the city that continued to be used in Sanskrit compositions. He dismisses any connection to "Sultan Muhammad Juna," suggesting that Muslim historians might have concocted a convenient etymology later due to a perceived similarity in names. There's no basis to believe "Juna" (meaning "old" in Gujarati) led to "Jirnadurga." Instead, the evidence points to a clear tadbhava (derived) relationship between "Jirnadurga" and "Junagadh."

4. Equivalence of Names: Dhaky finds crucial evidence in Jinaprabh Suri's "Rävata Girikalpa" (part of the Kalpa Pradipa), composed around 1333 CE. This text states that to the east of Tejpur, there is a fort named Ugrasengadh, and it lists its three known names as Ugrasengadh, Khangargadh, and Junnadugg.

   • Dhaky highlights that the form used here is "Junnadugg," not "Jirnadugg."
   • He explains that the Prakrit word "Junna" is derived from the Sanskrit "Jūrṇa" (or "Jirṇa"), both meaning "old."
   • This connection strongly suggests a linguistic evolution: Jūrṇa-durga (or Jirṇa-durga) -> Junna-dugga -> Junagadh. The "Junna" part likely originates from the synonym "Jūrṇa" rather than directly from "Jirṇa." The words "Gadh" and "Durga" are synonyms, making "Jūrṇa-durga" evolve into the simpler and more phonetically smooth "Junogadh" and eventually "Junagadh" in popular language. Dhaky recalls hearing an old form "Junegadh" in his childhood, which aligns with the Old Gujarati "Junai Gadh."

Final Analysis of Junagadh's Naming:

Dhaky offers a nuanced interpretation of Junagadh's various names:

• Ugrasengadh: This is likely a traditional, Brahmanical name, possibly linked to the legends of Neminath.
• Khengargadh: This name probably originates from Ra'khengār, a Chudasama ruler contemporary to Jayasingh Siddharaj. The association might stem from Ra'khengār moving his capital from Vanthali to Junagadh and renovating Uparkot. The architectural style of Uparkot's early structures suggests the 12th century, aligning with Ra'khengār's period.
• Jirnadurga / Junnadugg: This name suggests an older fort, predating Uparkot. Dhaky speculates it might have been renovated or built by Ra'graharippu in the 10th century. Even after Ra'khengār's renovations, the name "Jirnadurga" might have persisted out of habit and eventually evolved into the modern "Junagadh."

In essence, Dhaky's article argues that the original Sanskrit name of Junagadh was likely "Jirnadurga" (or its Prakrit equivalent "Junnadugg"), which evolved phonetically into "Junagadh" in common parlance. While other names like "Ugrasengadh" and "Khengargadh" also existed, "Jirnadurga" represents a direct linguistic predecessor to the modern name, refuting the theory that "Junagadh" was named after "Sultan Muhammad Juna" or that "Jirnadurga" was a later Sanskritization of "Junagadh."