Mandalana Jinalyoni Dhatupratimaona Lekho

This document, "Mandalana Jinalyoni Dhatupratimaona Lekho" by Lakshman Bhojak, is a scholarly work detailing inscriptions found on metal (dhatu) images of Jain Tirthankaras located in the Jain temples (Jinalayas) of Mandal.

Key Points from the Text:

• Historical Context: The text begins by mentioning that in the medieval period, Mandal (then known as Mandalagrama) had several Jain temples that were completely destroyed during Muslim invasions. The currently existing three temples were built in modern times.
• Focus of the Study: The author presents inscriptions from metal images found in the Shantinath temple and the "Big Temple" (Mota Derasar) in Mandal. Some of these inscriptions date back to the 13th century, but due to illegibility, they have been omitted. The majority of the published inscriptions are from the 15th century, with a few from the 16th century.
• Detailed Inscriptions and Their Significance: The document then systematically lists and describes various metal images, along with their inscriptions. Each entry provides details such as:
  • Date of Installation: Mentioned in Samvat (Saka Era) and Gregorian calendar (e.g., Samvat 1507 | e.g., 1451).
  • Name of the Tirthankara: Such as Parshvanath, Dharmanath, Shitalnath, Sambhavnath, Chandaprabha, Vasupujya, Munisuvrata, Kunkunath, and Ajitnath.
  • Details of the Donors: Often specifying their Gotra (lineage), caste (e.g., Shrimal, Pragvat, Ukesh), family members, and their motivations (e.g., for the welfare of ancestors, for their own merit).
  • Name of the Installing Acharya and Gachha (Sect): This provides crucial information about the lineage and tradition of Jain monasticism at the time (e.g., Vriddhatapgachha, Pippalgachha, Purnimapaksha, Anchalgachha, Agamgachha, Nagendragachha, Tapagachha).
  • Type of Image: Often described as "Panchtirthi" (a set of five images) or "Chaturvinsatipatta" (a panel depicting 24 Tirthankaras).
• Examples of Inscriptions Presented:
  • A Panchtirthi image of Parshvanath installed in Samvat 1507 (1451) by Shrimal community members from Patan, with installation by Acharya Ratnasinhsuriji of Vriddhatapgachha.
  • A Chaturvinsatipatta image of Dharmanath installed in Samvat 1509 (1453) by Shrimal community members from Patan, with installation by Acharya Udaydevsuriji of Pippalgachha.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Shitalnath installed in Samvat 1523 (1467) by the Gandhi family of the Shrimal community from Patan, with installation by Acharya Jayachandrasuriji.
  • A Chaturvinsatipatta image of Sambhavnath installed in Samvat 1541 (1485) by a Pragvat family, with installation by Acharya Lakshmisagarsuriji.
  • An image of Chandaprabha with an inscription from Samvat 1654 (1598), installed by Acharya Lalitprabhsuriji.
  • The "Big Temple" complex contains three temples, with the central and northern ones being older and containing images with inscriptions.
  • A "Shantinath Gotra Bimba" image with an inscription from Samvat 1405 (1349) installed by the Shrimal community under the guidance of Acharya Narsinhsuriji.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Sambhavnath installed in Samvat 1501 (1445) by the Shrimal community, with installation by Acharya Muneechandrasuriji of Brahmangachha.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Munisuvrata installed in Samvat 1513 (1457) by an Ukesh family under the guidance of Acharya Jayakesarisuriji of Anchalgachha.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Vasupujya, though without a specific Samvat, installed by Acharya of Nagendragachha in Kumargiri (present-day Kunghat).
  • A Panchtirthi image of Munisuvrata installed in Samvat 1489 (1433) by a Shrimal family, with installation by Acharya Sadhuratnasuriji.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Naminath installed in Samvat 1507 (1451) by a Shrimal family of Mandal, with installation by Acharya Hemratnasuriji of Agamgachha.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Sumatinath installed in Samvat 1513 (1457) by a Shrimal family from Patan, with installation by Acharya Ratnashekharsuriji.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Sambhavnath installed in Samvat 1517 (1461) by a Shrimal family under the guidance of Acharya Jayakesarisuriji of Anchalgachha.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Kunkunath installed in Samvat 1523 (1467) by a Pragvat family from Bibipur, with installation by Acharya Jnanasagarsuriji of Vriddhatapgachha.
  • Another Panchtirthi image of Kunkunath installed in Samvat 1523 (1467) by an Ukesh family from Patan, under the guidance of Acharya Jayakesarisuriji of Anchalgachha.
  • A Panchtirthi image of Ajitnath installed in Samvat 1587 (1531) by Pragvat community members from Champaner, with installation by Acharya Harshvinaysuriji of Tapagachha.
• Concluding Remark: The author notes the difficulty in definitively determining whether all the images were installed in Mandal or if some were brought from other places like Patan. The current presence of Tapagachha, Anchalgachha, and Pardhachandragachha in Mandal is also mentioned.

In essence, this work serves as a valuable epigraphical record of Jain metal iconography in Mandal, offering insights into the religious practices, patronage, and monastic lineages of the region during the medieval and early modern periods.