Kekindno Shilalekh - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the Kekind Shilalekh (Inscriptions of Kekind):

The text describes two inscriptions found at the Parsvanath temple in Kekind, a village located 14 miles southwest of Merta in Marwar.

Inscription No. 377 (Kekind Shilalekh):

Location: Carved on a pillar in the assembly hall (sabhamandap) of the Parsvanath temple in Kekind.
Temple Origin: The original temple appears to have been built before the 13th century, as suggested by a subsequent inscription. This specific inscription details renovations.
Nature of the Inscription: It is written in 41 lines, is 11 inches wide and 15 inches long. Except for the first two lines, the entire inscription is in verse. The language is Sanskrit, and the script is Devanagari, described as very beautiful and decorative.
Content:
- Praise of Adinath: The first 8 verses are dedicated to praising Yugadidev Adinath.
- Rathore Dynasty Rulers: Verses 9 to 22 describe the ruling Rathore dynasty kings.
  - The first king mentioned is Maharadhiraja Maldev, commonly known as Maldev.
  - Maldev was succeeded by Udaysingh. It is mentioned that during the reign of Emperor Akbar, Udaysingh, being the eldest among all kings, was granted the title "Vriddharaj" (Old King) by the Emperor.
  - The inscription then describes Udaysingh's successor, Sursingh.
  - Sursingh is praised for ruling justly, comparing him to Ramchandra among Hindu kings in the present time.
  - Sursingh dedicates gifts for the worship of Jinadev and promotes ahimsa (compassion for living beings) and ascetic practices like achalasana in his father's land.
  - Under his rule, there is no theft, gambling, hunting, intoxication, or confiscation of wealth from childless individuals.
  - His son, Gajsingh, is mentioned as the crown prince.
- Family Lineage of Napa: The inscription then details the family of a wealthy and religious man named Jaga from the Uchitwal (now known as Eruwal) clan of the Esval dynasty. Jaga took the vow of chastity (chaturth vrata) at a young age in Jodhpur.
  - Jaga had a son named Napa, described as a virtuous and generous person who earned respect.
  - Napa's wife was Gurjarade, who was virtuous, beautiful, skilled in household management, and devoted to gods and gurus.
  - Napa and Gurjarade had a son named Napa (this seems to be a repetition or a different Napa being referred to, but the context suggests a continuation of the lineage, possibly a grandson). This Napa performed many good deeds and was widely famous.
  - This Napa had a wife named Navalde and five sons. A table lists the names of the sons and their wives and children:
    - Asa
    - Amrit
    - Sudharma (wife - Sapaddevi)
    - Malikdev (wife - Dharalde)
    - Uday (wife - Uchharangde)
    - The next generation includes Viramdas, Jivraj, Manhar, and Vardhaman.
- Pilgrimages and Vows: This Napa, with his family, undertook pilgrimages to Shatrunjay and Girnar in Samvat 1659. In Samvat 1664, they visited Abu, Ranpur, Nadel, and Sirohi.
- Renunciation: In Samvat 1666, on the third day of the bright half of Phalgun, both Napa and his wife took the fourth vow (chaturth vrata), donating a considerable amount of silver.
- Temple Renovation: Napa, desiring to attain good merit by spending his father's justly acquired wealth, built the main mandap and two chatushikas (chaukis) on its sides in Samvat 1665.
- Architect: The chief architect (sutradhar) for this construction was named Teḍar.
- Installation (Pratishtha): The installation was performed by the learned scholar Vachak Labdhisagar, a disciple of Acharya Vijaydevsuriji (a successor of Acharya Vijay-sensuri of the Tapagachha). Acharya Vijaydevsuriji belonged to the Uchitwal clan.
- Praise Composer and Engraver: The inscription was composed by Udayaruchi, a disciple of Pandit Shri Vijaykushalavibudha. It was written on stone by Jaysagar, a disciple of scholar Sahajsagar. The carving was done by the architect Teḍar.

Connection to Other Inscriptions and Architects:

The text notes that the Jaysagar who wrote this inscription (and was the performer of the pratishtha in the Jalore inscription no. 354) is likely the same person.
The architect Teḍar mentioned here is also likely the same Teḍar who appears in another Jalore inscription (no. 356). In those inscriptions, Teḍar and his associates made an idol which was installed in Samvat 1883 by Svayamvijaydevsuri. This suggests Teḍar was also a follower of Jainism.
Vachak Labdhisagar, the installer, was a disciple of the renowned Upadhyaya Dharamsagarji and the guru of Acharya Rajasagar (founder of the Sagargachha), whose ascetic name was Muktisagar.

Inscription No. 378:

Location: Carved on a charankī or vedikā (platform) in the main sanctum of the same temple.
Condition: The inscription is incomplete and fragmented.
Content: It records that a layman named Dhandhal did something (likely referring to the parikar) on the ninth day of the bright half of Ashadh in Samvat 1230, under the guidance of Anandsuri.
Temple Age: This inscription suggests that the temple is even older than Samvat 1230.
Location Name: The inscription mentions the place name as "Kiṣkidha," which is the Sanskrit form of the current "Kekind."
Temple Type: The temple is referred to as "Vidhi-Chaitya," implying it might have been built by the opposing faction of the Chaityavasis. (A reference is made to a previous discussion on "Vidhi-Chaitya" in the commentary for inscription no. 352).
Further Information: For more details about Rajasagar Suri, the text directs the reader to the book "Mahare Jain Itihasik Gurjar Vayansanchay."

In essence, the Kekind inscriptions, particularly the detailed no. 377, provide valuable historical information about the patronage of Jainism by the Rathore rulers of Marwar, the family history of prominent Jain patrons, their religious activities like pilgrimages and temple building, and the specific artisans and religious figures involved in these endeavors. The second, albeit fragmented, inscription further confirms the temple's antiquity.