Nadolna Lekho

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Nadolna Lekho," based on the given pages:

The text discusses inscriptions found at Nadol, a significant Jain pilgrimage site in the Godwad region of Marwar, which was historically the capital of the Chauhans. The primary focus is on inscriptions found on statues in a large and magnificent temple dedicated to Padmaprabhu.

Key Inscriptions and Details:

• Inscriptions 364-65: These inscriptions are found on two standing statues (Kayotsarga) of Neminath and Shantinath in the inner mandapa of the Padmaprabhu temple.

  • Date: Vaisakha Shukla 10, Samvat 1215 (Gregorian year roughly 1159).
  • Details: These statues were made by Shravakas (lay devotees) named Brahmā, Ghaṛaṇā, Jasa-Chandra, Jasa-Deva, Jasa-Dhaval, and Jasa-Pāl in a place called Visādā. They were consecrated by Padmachandra Gani, a disciple of Devsurisuri and a grand-disciple of Munichandrasuri of the Brihadgachchha.
  • Significance: The epithet "Pāṇinīya" attached to the consecrator indicates he was a great scholar of Pāṇini's grammar. The fact that the statues were originally installed in Visādā suggests they were later brought to the Nadol temple.

• Inscriptions 366-67: These inscriptions are found on two of the three main statues in the original sanctum of the same temple.

  • Inscription 367: This inscription is on the statue of the main deity, Padmaprabhu, which is centrally located.

    • Date: First Ashadha Vad 5, Friday, Samvat 1686 (Gregorian year roughly 1630).
    • Details: The statues were made by Minister Jayamalla, who managed the administration during the reign of Maharaja-dhiraja Gaisingh. The consecration was performed by Shri Vijaydeva Suri, a disciple of Acharya Vijayasen Suri (successor of Acharya Hiravijaya Suri of the Tapagachchha), who was also honored with the title "Mahatapa" by Emperor Jahangir. The consecration took place in Jalor. From there, the statue was brought and installed in the Rayavihar temple in Nadol during the reign of Rana Jagsinghji.
    • Context: The text notes that the Godwad region, including Nadol, was previously under the Mewar state, explaining the mention of Rana Jagsinghji's reign. Minister Jayamalla was a minister of the Marwar state and a resident of Jodhpur. The text confirms that this Jayamalla is the same person mentioned in earlier inscriptions (like 354) from Jalor.

  • Inscription 368: This inscription is also found on a statue in the same temple.

    • Date: Vaisakha Shukla 3, Wednesday, Samvat 1485 (Gregorian year roughly 1429).
    • Details: Shravak Dosī Mulā, of the Pragvata (Parwar) community, commissioned the image of Suvidhinath for the merit of his father, Do. Mahipā. The consecration was performed by Sāmsundara Suri of the Tapagachchha.

• Inscription 369: This inscription was obtained from the village of Kot Salakiya, located 15 miles northeast of Desuri.

  • Location: Carved on a pillar of a ruined Jain temple.
  • Publication: Based on two sketches provided by Munshi Deviprasad, a judge in Jodhpur.
  • Format: Eight lines, 11 inches wide and 7 inches long.
  • Script and Language: Nagari script, Sanskrit language, mostly prose except for the last stanza.
  • Linguistic Note: The consonants following 'r' in the word "bachavā" (line 5) are doubled.

• Inscription 370: Found in the same temple (presumably the Padmaprabhu temple at Nadol).

  • Date: Chaitra Shukla 13, Friday, Samvat 1394 (Gregorian year roughly 1338). Written during the reign of Maharaja-dhiraja Shri Shri Veenavir Dev.
  • Details: At the time of hoisting the flag at the Parshvanath temple in Asalpur, Raut Mūlarāj, son of Raut Semā (descendant of Raut Malhan) and grandson of Raut Bālā and his wife Jakhildev, gifted a well (drikua-ū) along with land for the merit of his parents and grandparents. This gift was made in the presence of Raut Bālā, Raut Hāthā, Kumar Lūmbhā, and Nībā.
  • Clarification: "Drikua-ū" refers to a well with a wheel ("ahta"). The mention of Asalpur in another inscription from Kolankiya suggests this was its ancient name.

• Inscription 370 (second mention): Also found in the aforementioned temple. The author received a manuscript copy from Shri Bhandarkar.

  • Date: Ashadha Shukla 3, Monday, Samvat 1475 (Gregorian year roughly 1419).
  • Details: The renovation of the Balāṇā Mandap of the Parshvanath temple in Asalpur fort was carried out for the spiritual merit of the father of someone from the Upakesha dynasty, belonging to the Linga Gotra. The entire Samgha and Thakur Maṇḍaṇ were witnesses. Rana Lāṣā (Khā) was ruling at the time, and Thakur Maṇḍaṇ was the prime minister.
  • Observation: The donor's name is not definitively ascertainable as the text only mentions family members' names with the suffix "sahita" (along with).

• Inscription 31: Described by Shri Bhandarkar, obtained from Juna or Juna Bahadmer.

  • Location: 12 miles northwest of Bahadmer in the Malani province of Jodhpur State. Carved on a pillar of a temple entrance in a ruined Jain temple.
  • Format: 10 lines, 11 inches wide, 7 inches long.
  • Script and Language: Nagari script, Sanskrit language, mostly prose except for concluding benedictory verses.
  • Linguistic Notes: The digit '2' is used instead of '1' and '2'. In the third line, 'r' (two times 'ek') follows "Shri," suggesting a repetition of the word "Shri." Specific terms mentioned include "pā'ilā" and "Bhimapriya visheshak" (explained as a type of coin). "Lag" (line 8) means "as tax."
  • Date: Samvat 1452 (Gregorian year roughly 1396).
  • Details: During the administration of Mantri Virāsel, Velāul, Bhandāri Migal, etc., associated with Maharaj Kul Shri Sāmantasinghadev, a gift was made to the Kshetrapala named Vidnamardan and the Devraj named Chaunḍa (Chamuṇḍa?) in the Adiinath temple at Bahadmer. A tax of one "pā'ilā" was ordered to be collected on camels and bullocks (laden with goods) traveling to or from the place. If "pā'ilā" was not paid, ten "Bhimapriya visheshaka" were to be collected instead. This gift was to be divided equally between the two deities for their worship. This tax ("lāge") was accepted by the Mahajanas (merchants) of the village.
  • Historical Note: The text clarifies that "Bahadmeru" refers to the ancient Bahadmer from where the inscription was found, not the currently populated Bahadmer which is a newer settlement.

• Inscription 372: Taken from Shri Bhandarkar's notes. The location is not specified.

  • Date: Vaisakha Vad 13, Samvat 1508 (Gregorian year roughly 1452).
  • Details: Someone from the Pragvat community named Sāḍūl is said to have commissioned twenty-four (Chaturvimsati) statues, including the one with this inscription dedicated to Shitalnath. The consecration was done by Acharya Ratnasekhar Suri, successor of Acharya Semsundar Suri of the Tapagachchha.
  • Observation: The latter part of the inscription lists names of places such as Shatrunjay, Devkulpatak city, Abu, Champakmeru, Chitrakoot, Jā'uṛnagar, Kāyadra, Nāgahruda, Oswal, Nāgpur, Kumbhalgarh, Devkulpatak, and Shri Kund, each followed by the numeral '2'. The purpose of this numeral is unclear, but it is speculated that the donor commissioned numerous such statues that were sent to these places.
  • Definition: "Chaturvimsati Pratima" refers to statues of Tirthankaras carved from a single stone. Such metal statues are commonly found in Jain temples and are known as "Vis" (meaning twenty, likely referring to the twenty-four Tirthankaras).

• Inscriptions 373-74: Found on two pillars in the mandap of the Shantinath temple in the village of Kerṭā, located on the border of Jalor and Khālī provinces of the Marwar state. This village appears to have been prosperous in ancient times, evidenced by its ruins.

  • Historical Note: The name "Kerantak" is found in the inscription, and a specific Gachchha (sect) named the Kerantak Gachchha was also famous in olden times, mentioned in inscriptions from places like Abu. Currently, the village is in ruins.
  • Inscription 373: Yashachandra Upadhyaya's disciple, Padmachandra Upadhyaya, had these pillars made for the merit of his father and mother.
  • Inscription 374: Kukubhacharya's disciple, Bhattarak Thulabhadra, had these pillars made for the merit of his mother, Chehaṇī.

• Inscriptions 375-76: These are from a temple outside Kerṭā, referred to as the temple of Rishabhdev. They are found on two large statues within the temple.

  • Date: Vaisakha Shukla 3, Thursday, Samvat 1143 (Gregorian year roughly 1087).
  • Details: The first part is in verse, consisting of two verses. A Shravaka named Duk commissioned the statue of Viranath (Mahavir) Tirthankar, which was consecrated by Ajitadeva Suri's disciple, Vijayasingh Suri.
  • Inscription 376 (Second inscription): Largely intact except for the date. The surviving phrases mention the Karkata dynasty and the image of Shantinath.
  • Dating Discrepancy: The inscription mentions Ajitadeva and Vijayasingh as guru-disciple, who are also mentioned in inscription 289 with a date of Samvat 1206. The current inscription's date is 1143, creating a gap of 63 years, which is considered too long for one person to remain an Acharya.
  • Speculation on Discrepancy: The author suggests a possible error in reading or inscribing the date, proposing 1183 or around that period. It's easy to confuse '8' and '4' in old Jain scripts due to similarities in shape. Alternatively, the error might be in the phrase "Shrimato'gati," which is partially worn out and unreadable, potentially indicating a different name for Ajitadeva, such as Abhayadeva. This inscription was also transcribed from Shri Bhandarkar's notes.

This summary covers the main points of the provided text, detailing the inscriptions, their dates, the individuals involved, the religious context, and any linguistic or historical observations made by the author or referenced sources.