Ujjayantgirina Ketlak Aprakat Utkirna Lekho - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Ujjayantgirina Ketlak Aprakat Utkirna Lekho" by M.A. Dhaky, focusing on the unearthed inscriptions of Ujjayantgiri (Girnar):

The article, "Some Unrevealed Inscriptions of Ujjayantgiri" by M.A. Dhaky, presents and elaborates on a collection of fourteen previously unknown inscriptions found on the sacred Mount Ujjayantgiri (Girnar). These discoveries were made during surveys of the temples on the mountain in the spring of 1973 and again in 1977. The author states that Ujjayantgiri remained exclusively a Jain pilgrimage site until the late medieval period, and therefore, all discovered inscriptions are related to Jain temples. The newly found inscriptions do not alter this understanding.

The article begins by critically examining previous scholarly attempts to decipher and interpret inscriptions from Girnar:

James Tod: His preliminary notes on Girnar inscriptions are described as "highly ambiguous, mixed, and confused." Dhaky suggests Tod lacked sufficient knowledge of medieval scripts and the contextual understanding of the inscriptions. Due to the difficulty of deciphering the language at that time, Tod's interpretations are deemed unreliable.
Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji: While he discussed an inscription from the temple of Jin Neminath (dated to Samvat 1176 / 1120 CE), even this esteemed scholar, according to Dhaky, could not read it well or grasp its essence. A more detailed discussion on this point is promised in a subsequent article within the same volume.
James Burgess: Burgess published several inscriptions, including one of the six prashasti (praise) inscriptions related to Vastupal, dated Samvat 1289 / 1231-32 CE, an incomplete inscription related to Shahnaraj, and about six other minor inscriptions. However, Dhaky points out that Burgess's transcriptions contain errors in reading and understanding the meaning. Burgess also made significant mistakes in interpreting the correct period of the Shahnaraj prashasti, leading to erroneous historical conclusions about the Chudasama dynasty. Dhaky notes that later scholars have largely corrected these errors.
Burgess and Cousens: Their work further included the inscriptions previously published by Burgess, with some variations, and an additional thirteen inscriptions in their catalog of antiquities of the Bombay Presidency.
Dattatraya Diskalkar: He initiated a series on the inscriptions of Kathiawad in "Poona Orientalist," later published as a book. This series provided readings and meanings of four additional new inscriptions beyond those published by Burgess and Cousens.
Munishri Jinavijayji: He compiled about eighteen selected inscriptions from those published by Burgess and Burgess-Cousens in his work "Prachin Jain Shilalekhono Sankalan." He also provided some commentary.
Acharya Vijaydharmasuri: He published a reading of an inscription from a brass parikar (frame) of a kausagika (a type of Jina image) dated Samvat 1523.
Gijarashankar Vallabhji Acharya: He included about seventeen inscriptions from Girnar, previously published by Burgess-Cousens and edited by Diskalkar, in his extensive compilation of Gujarat inscriptions.
Sarabhai Manilal Nawab: He provided readings of two important inscriptions from Girnar (one incomplete) in his book on Jain Tirthas and Architecture.
Chh. M.etri: More recently, he provided readings of three inscriptions found on sculptural fragments during repairs of the Devkot surrounding Jain temples. Dhaky indicates he has revised and reinterpreted one of these, concerning the praise of the Varhudiya family.

The article then proceeds to present the newly discovered inscriptions in detail, acknowledging that some could not be fully read due to their condition:

Inscription on a Pillar: Found on a pillar in the southern gate of the gudhamandapa (inner sanctum) of a temple, this four-line inscription, attributed to King Samprati (though Dhaky clarifies it's from the temple of Vimalnath-Jin built by Shahnaraj in Samvat 1509 / 1453 CE), is dated Samvat 6226 (this is likely a typo, as the text clarifies the era later). It relates to Jain monks undertaking Sallekhana (voluntary fasting unto death) on Ujjayantgiri. The pillar is believed to have been erected as a nishidhika (memorial stone) after the Nirvana of a Suriji in Samvat 1236 / 1180 CE. This inscription falls within the reign of Chalukya king Bhimadeva II (1186-1240 CE).
Inscription on the Seat of the Principal Idol: Located on the seat of the main idol in the temple currently known as the "Gumashta Temple" (originally built by Minister Vastupal for Marudevi), only a partial reading of Samvat 126 (again, likely a typo and referring to the era of the inscription's erection, not the CE year) is possible due to accumulated debris. The readable portion mentions "Ra'mul Suri..." This inscription is dated to Samvat 1220 CE and predates the constructions of Vastupal-Tejpala, suggesting it might have originally been part of the Neminath temple complex.
Inscription on a Nandishwar Pata: This inscription is carved in two lines on a white marble Nandishwar Pata (a plaque depicting Nandishwar Dvipa) in the western ambulatory of the temple of Tirthpati Jin Neminath. It is dated Samvat 1282 / 1226 CE. It records the erection of the Nandishwarjinbimba (image of Nandishwar Jin) by Maham. Dhandhal, son of Sthapati Rajpal of Praguata, along with his relatives and family members, for their spiritual merit. The inscription also mentions the installation by Shri Manadev Suri, a disciple of Shri Pradyumna Suri. The names of sculpted figures (male, female, and Dhandhal's family) are also listed. Maham. Dhandhal, who may have held the ministerial seal, is not well-documented further.
Inscription on a "Twenty Viharamana Jin" Pata: This three-line inscription is carved below a plaque believed to represent the "Twenty Viharamana Jin" (Jinas currently existing in Mahavideh Kshetra) in the northern ambulatory of the Rewatachaladheesh Nemijin Temple. Sarabhai Nawab had previously published an incomplete reading. Dhaky provides the full available text, dated Samvat 1290 / 1234 CE. It records the creation of the plaque by Maham. Dhandhal of Praguata, along with his wife Maham. Siri, and other family members. The plaque was installed by Shri Nityananda Suri. Dhaky argues that the plaque likely depicts Jinas from Sametshikhar rather than the twenty Viharamana Jinas. His reasoning includes the presence of Parshvanath (the 23rd Tirthankara of the current Bharat Kshetra) among the twenty depicted Jinas, and the depiction of each Jina within a prasad (temple) with a shikhara (spire), suggesting the installation of images in the devakulās (celestial temples) of the twenty Jinas who attained liberation at Sametshikhar. Dhaky suggests the missing eight characters in the second line are "Sametshikharapattam." The article then reconstructs the lineage of Maham. Dhandhal based on the information in this and the previous inscription.
Inscription on a Pillar near the Southern Exit: This heavily worn inscription on a black stone pillar near the southern exit of the gudhamandapa of Jin Neminath's temple is dated Samvat 1334 / 1278 CE. A significant point is its epigraphic mention, for the first time and earlier than known literary evidence, of the city "Tejalpur", founded by minister Tejpal around 1232 CE in the vicinity of the Durga (fort) of Jirnadurg (Uparkot), the old Junagadh. This is mentioned in Jain prabandha literature and Chaitya-paripatis of the 14th-15th centuries. The inscription is partially illegible.
Inscription on a Chaturvishati Pata (Twenty-four Jina Plaque): This inscription on yellow stone, dated Samvat 1361 / 1305 CE, is found in a niche in the northwest corner of the gudhamandapa of Neminath's temple. It records the installation of a Chaturvishati Pata (plaque of the twenty-four Tirthankaras) at the great pilgrimage site of Ujjayant. The plaque was created by Maham. Padam, Maham. Vika, Maham. Haripal, and others of the Shrimala community. It was consecrated by Shri Jayananda Suri, a disciple of Shri Nemicandra Suri. Information about the creators and the gaccha (sect) of the consecrating Suri is not available.
Inscription on a Plaque with Images: This inscription, dated Samvat 1494 / 1438 CE, is carved at the bottom of a yellow plaque depicting a group of one male and five female worshipping images. It mentions Shresthi Karman and his wife Karmade, and their son Sarang with his wife and others of the Shrimala community. Dhaky speculates that "Sarang Jinvar," mentioned by a 15th-century author as being bowed to on the path to Hathipagala, might be this Jin installed by Sahuj Sarang. The construction period of this Jin can be estimated to around 1438 CE. In the same year, the Kalyanatraya temple, built by Samarsimha-Malde, was consecrated by Jinakirti Suri. It's also estimated that the Punig-vasahi was consecrated by the same Suri around the same time.
Short Inscription on a Chaturvishati Jina Pata: This short inscription, dated Samvat 1499 / 1443 CE, is found below a yellow stone plaque of the twenty-four Jinas in Jin Neminath's gudhamandapa. It records the erection of the plaque by Sa. Samarsimha of the Oswal community, along with his wife and others, and its consecration by Shri Soma Surari. The significance of this inscription lies in the consecrating acharya, Somacharyasuri, who also consecrated the famous Nalini-gulma Chaturmukha Mahavihara at Ranakpur and other temples in Mewar-Delwada. Literary sources mention Somacharyasuri's pilgrimage to Girnar, and Samarsimha might be one of the two Oswal creators of the "Kalyanatraya" temple consecrated in Samvat 1494.
Inscription on a Jin Statue: This inscription is carved on the lower part of a white marble Jin statue preserved in the gudhamandapa of the so-called Samprati Raja's temple. It is dated Samvat 14[09] (the last two digits are unreadable). It records the creation of the Vimalnath image by Shre. Bhai Akhya of the Shrimala community, along with his family, and its consecration by Shri Ratnasimha Suri of the Vriddha Tapa sect. While Munishri Darshanvijayji mentioned this inscription, he did not provide a reading. Dhaky suggests that the year mentioned might be Samvat 1509, as Ratnasimha Suri is known to have consecrated the original Vimalnath idol in that year. However, the current statue, though of Vimalnath, doesn't seem to be the original, as it was consecrated by a Shrimala family from Surat, whereas the temple was built by Shahnaraj and Bhumbhava from Khambhat. Also, the original idol was likely made of brass, while this inscription mentions other details. The presence of Ratnasimha Suri makes this inscription a valuable historical document.
Inscription on an Adinath Chaturvishi Pata: This inscription on a plaque of Adinath's twenty-four Jinas, found on the jaggati (platform) of the so-called Sagram Soni's temple, is dated Samvat 1504[9]. The consecration is attributed to a Suri from the Agamgaccha (possibly Devendra Suri). The inscription states it was installed by Shre. Lakshman, his wife Limtide, son Meghavanamana, and others from Visalnagar.
Inscription on a Yellow Stone Statue: This inscription is on a yellow stone statue, consecrated by Udayavallabha Suri, a disciple of Ratnasimha Suri, located next to the present main idol in the original sanctum. The name and emblem of the Jin are not clearly visible.
Inscriptions on the Main Idol and a Brass Parikar: There is an inscription dated Samvat 1519 (mentioning the reign of Ramandalika) on the black statue currently worshipped as the main idol. Another inscription dated Samvat 1523 / 1497 CE is found on a brass parikar from the basement of the original Vimalnath temple. This was done under the guidance of Ratnasimha Suri and Udayavallabha Suri, and consecrated by Udayavallabha Suri's disciple Gyanasagar. Given the parikar is made of brass, it is highly probable that the original Vimalnath idol was also made of brass.

The article concludes by mentioning the existence of several Shvetambar inscriptions from the 18th-19th centuries and Digambar inscriptions from the 15th-17th centuries, which are not included in this presentation.

The author expresses gratitude to the American Institute of Indian Studies for providing photographic plates for the article.