Vairat Nagarno Shilalekh - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Vairat Nagarno Shilalekh" (The Inscription of Vairat City) by Jinvijay, based on the provided PDF excerpt:

The text discusses an inscription found at a village named Bairat (also referred to as Khairat) in the Jaipur state of Rajputana. The author, Jinvijay, aims to provide a detailed analysis of this inscription and its historical context.

Location and Identification of Vairat:

Primary Identification: The inscription is firmly linked to the ancient city of Vairatnagar, which is believed to be the same as the modern village of Bairat. This identification is supported by several factors:
- It's commonly accepted that this Bairat is the same Vairatnagar of the Matsya country, where the Pandavas hid in disguise during their exile.
- The name "Bairat" itself is seen as a direct evolution of "Vairat."
- The surrounding region is still referred to as Matsya Desh.
- Local traditions point to sites associated with the Pandavas' stay, such as "Bhim ki Dungri" (Bhim's Hill), Kichak's palace mound, and Khannaganga (a stream reportedly created by Arjuna).
Distinction from other "Virat" places: The text clarifies that while there are other places named Virat in South India (like Hangal in Dharwad and Dholka in Kathiawar), the inscription refers specifically to the Vairatnagar of the Mahabharata, not these other locations. The inscription's content and the local association with the Mahabharata evidence support this.
Connection to Yuan Chwang: Some scholars believe that Bairat is also the place called "Po-li-ye-to-lo" mentioned by the Chinese traveler Yuan Chwang.
Al-Biruni's Reference: The text also connects Bairat to Al-Biruni's description of "Narann" or "Bazanah" as the capital of Gujarat. It suggests that Bairat might have been a capital along with Narayanpur at some point, and the surrounding region was likely part of Gujarat, possibly under the Gurjara-Pratiharas or Badgujar clans.

Key Archaeological Sites at Bairat:

The text highlights three significant archaeological features at Bairat:

Parshvanatha Temple: Currently under the possession of Digambar Jains (known as "Saravagi" in North Rajputana), it is argued to have originally belonged to the Svetambara sect.
Bijak Hill: An important archaeological site.
Bhim ki Dungri: Associated with the Pandava Bheem.

The Inscription Itself:

Physical Description: The inscription is carved on a stone slab measuring 11 feet 7 inches long and 1 foot 4 inches wide, containing 40 lines of text. The language is Sanskrit prose. Due to damage to the stone, many lines are incomplete, but the surviving portions are comprehensible.
Date: The inscription is dated to Shak Samvat 1590 (which corresponds to Vikram Samvat 1644 or 1587 CE). This is inferred from a partially damaged date in the first line and the explicit mention of 1590 in the second line.
Content and Significance:
- Praise for Emperor Akbar: The initial lines (3-10) praise Emperor Akbar, under whose reign the inscription and the described temple were created. It specifically mentions Akbar's decree related to animal protection, issued after meeting Acharya Hiravijayasuri.
- Akbar's Decree: The inscription details that Akbar decreed a total of 106 days of non-violence (animal killing) in a year. This included 40 days related to his birth month, 48 days for all Sundays, and other days for Jain festivals like Paryushana.
- Vairat Nagar and its Resources: The text mentions "Vairat Nagar" and notes that it had numerous mines for copper, ochre, and other minerals. This is corroborated by Abul Fazl's "Ain-i-Akbari" and archaeological observations of metal slag in the area.
- Temple Builder's Genealogy: The inscription then details the genealogy of the temple's builder. Although fragmented, it identifies the builder's caste as Shrimali and their gotra as Rakhan (or Rokhan). The lineage includes individuals named Nahya, Isar, Ratnapal, Devdatt, and Bharamal.
- Bharamal's Services and Recognition: Bharamal was honored by the Emperor, and according to Todarmal (Akbar's finance minister), he was appointed a high-ranking official overseeing many villages.
- Indraraj and the Temple: Bharamal's son, Indraraj, along with his family, is mentioned as the constructor of the temple named Indra Vihar or Mahodaya Prasad. The principal deity installed was Vimalanatha Tirthankar. Other significant idols included a stone image of Parshvanatha (named after his paternal grandfather), a brass image of Chandraprabha (named after himself), and an image of Rishabhadeva (named after his brother Ajayraj).
- Acharya Hiravijayasuri and Kalyanavijay: The inscription acknowledges Acharya Hiravijayasuri, mentioning his significant deeds, including his meeting with Emperor Akbar. It also praises his disciple, Mahopadhyaya Kalyanavijay, who performed the consecration ceremony of the temple.
- Endorsements and Scribes: The inscription concludes by naming the composer of the eulogy (Pandit Labhvijay Gani), the scribe (Pandit Hemkushal Gani), and the engraver (Bhairav's son Masaraf Bhagatu Mahaval).

Further Corroboration and Context:

The text further cites other Jain literature, such as Pandit Devavimalagani's "Hira Suri Ras" and Jayavijay's "Kalyanavijay Ras," to confirm the details about Indraraj and the temple consecration.
It highlights that Acharya Hiravijayasuri, after his Chauturmas in Nagaur, sent his disciple Mahopadhyaya Kalyanavijay to Bairat to perform the consecration at the request of Indraraj's envoy.
The consecration ceremony was a grand affair, involving significant expenditure (reported as forty thousand rupees) and charitable donations to the poor, including elephants, horses, clothes, ornaments, food, and monetary gifts.

In essence, "Vairat Nagarno Shilalekh" is a scholarly examination of an ancient Jain inscription that provides valuable historical information about the city of Vairat, its association with the Mahabharata, the reign of Emperor Akbar, the patronage of Jainism by influential figures like Acharya Hiravijayasuri, and the construction and consecration of a significant Jain temple by Indraraj, son of Bharamal.