Jainism in Bundelkhand
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Bundelkhand, in the heart of India, has been an ancient centre of Jainism. It is mostly in modern Madhya Pradesh, part of it is in Uttar Pradesh.
Bundelkhand was known as Dasharna or Jaijakabhukti in ancient times. Betwa (Vetravati) and Dhasan (Dasharna) rivers flow through it.
| भगवतोर्हतः चन्द्रप्रभस्य प्रतिमेऽयं कारिता महाराजाधिराज-श्री-रामगुप्तेन उपदेशात् पाणिपात्रिक-चन्द्रक्षमाचार्य्य-क्षमण-श्रमण-प्रशिष्य-आचार्य्य सर्प्पसेन-क्षमण-शिष्यस्य गोलक्यान्त्या-सत्पुत्रस्य चेलु-क्षमणस्येति || || |
| The Ramagupta Inscription found near Vidisha 375 CE |
It is one of the few regions in India where Jainism has a strong presence and influence. There are many ancient tirthas in Bundelkhand. Many of the modern scholars of Jainism are from this region.
Many of the fampous Jain tirthas, Vidisha, Deogarh, Lalitpur [Uttar pradesh],Chanderi,Kundalpur, Khajuraho, Ahar, Papora, Sonagir, Nainagir, etc. are in this region.
Bundelkhand is home to several Jain communities:
- Parwar
- Golapurva
- Golalare
- Taranpanthi (including Samiya, Charanagare and Ayodhyavasi)
- Kathanere
The Khandelwals are originally from Rajasthan, but they have ben present in Bundelkhand since ancient times.
The Bhadavar region (Bhind, Muraina, Itawa) is adjacent to Bundelkhand and is home to
- Golalare
- Kharaua
- Varaiya
- Padmavati Purwar
- Lamenchu
- Jaiswal
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Kasturchand Jain Suman, Bharatiya Digambar Jain Abhilekh aur Tirth Parichay, Madhya-Pradesh: 13 vi shati tak, Delhi, 2001.
- Siddhantacharya Pt. Phulachandra Shastri, Parwar jain samaj ka Itihas, Jabalpur, 1990.
