Shrimal Jain
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Shrimal (Srimal) Jain or Vania is an ancient Jain and Hindu community originally from Rajasthan, Shrimal or Bhinmal town in southern Rajasthan. They were traditionally wealthy merchants and money Lenders and have always been prominent at the court of Rajput kings as treasurers and ministers, holding the titles of Dewan or Durbari. It is believed that this caste descends from the Goddess Laxmi and their descendants today are well known for their business acumen and are in possession of Havelis and mansions given to them as gifts from kings for their service as royal treasurers, ministers, courtiers and advisors. The Shrimal (Srimal) Jain are thought to be the highest gotra in the Oswal merchant and minister caste which is found primarily in the north of India,see Oswal. It is believed that a number of the Srimal formed their own caste separate from the Oswal, which can be evidenced by the fact that the majority of Srimals are Jain which is the case with the Oswal caste who descend from the Raja of Osnagar a Rajput prince who converted to Jainism upon witnessing Sri Ratan Suri a Jain ascetic bring his son back to life, see Oswal. A small portion of the Srimals are still Hindu and follow the vaishnav path while worshipping their kuladevi, Goddess Laxmi.
They mainly reside in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim
The Court Jewelers to H.E. The Viceroy and Governor General of British India built Calcutta Jain Temple in 1867.[1] The temple is famous as Parasnath Temple. It is built in Belgian glass and sited in the tourist map of Kolkata, India. It is also known as Mookim's temple garden situated in 36, Badridas Temple Street, Maniktolla, Kolkata 700004. Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim[2] was son of Kalkadas Mookim. He migrated from Lucknow to Kolkata. He built some other Jain temples in Sammet Shikhar and Purimatal (Allahabad).
Prominent Shrimals
- Thakkar Pheru of Delhi the author of 14th century texts on precious metals and gems and courtier to Alauddin Khilji and later Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq .
- Poet Banarasidas[3] of Agra
- Jain scholar Kanji Swami
- Bhama Shah a financier, general and minister in the court of the great Rana Pratap of Mewar.
- Rai Bahadur Badri Das, the builder of the famous Calcutta Jain Temple dedicated to Lord Shitalnath in 1867.[4]
- Sarabhai family of Ahmedabad
They have historically connected with the Porwal and Oswal communities.
See also
- Porwal
- Oswal
- Thakkar Pheru
References
- ↑ Rai Badridas Bahadur Mookim http://vardhamangems.webs.com/heritage.htm
- ↑ "Heritage - Vardhaman Gems". Vardhamangems.webs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
- ↑ Gateway to Indian Classical Literature By Various, Poornima Pillai,Published 2005 Asiapac Books Pte Ltd, p. 138-139, ISBN 981-229-427-9
- ↑ Thacker's Guide to Calcutta By Walter Kelly Firminger, Published 1906, Thacker, Spink & Co. p. 65
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