Srimala Sutra

Bhinmal (previously Shrimal Nagar) is an ancient town in the Jalore District of Rajasthan, India. It is south of Jalore. Bhinmal was the capital of the Bhil king, then the capital of Gurjaradesa, comprising modern-day southern Rajasthan and northern Gujarat.

The town was the birthplace of the Sanskrit poet Magha and famous mathematician-astronomer Brahmagupta.

History

The original name of Bhinmal was Bhillamala. Its older name was Srimal, from which Shrimali Brahmins took their name Xuanzang, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India between 631 and 645 AD during Harsha's reign, mentioned this place as ''Pi-lo-mo-lo''. There are different views about the origin of its name. Some suggest it may be due to its Bhil population, whereas Shrimalamahatmaya, says it began to be called Bhinmal because of the poverty caused by Islamic invaders, which caused most of its people to migrate from this place. It was the early capital of the kingdom of Gurjaradesa. The kingdom is first attested in Bana's ''Harshacharita'' (7th century AD). Its king is said to have been subdued by Harsha's father Prabhakaravardhana (died c. 605 AD). The surrounding kingdoms were mentioned as Sindha (Sindh), Lāta (southern Gujarat) and Malava (western Malwa), indicating that the region included northern Gujarat and southern Rajasthan.

Xuanzang, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India between 631 and 645 AD during Harsha's reign, mentioned the Gurjara country (''Kiu-che-lo'') with its capital at Bhillamala (''Pi-lo-mo-lo'') as the second largest kingdom of Western India. He distinguished it from the neighbouring kingdoms of Bharukaccha (Bharuch), Ujjayini (Ujjain), Malava (Malwa), Valabhi and Surashtra. The Gurjara kingdom was said to have measured 833 miles in circuit and its ruler was a 20-year old Kshatriya, distinguished for his wisdom and courage. It is believed that the king must have been the immediate successor of the Chavda dynasty ruler ''Vyāgrahamukha'', under whose reign the mathematician-astronomer Brahmagupta wrote his famous treatise in 628 AD.

The chroniclers of Sindh (an Arab province from 712 CE onward), narrated the campaigns of Arab governors on ''Jurz'', the Arabic term for Gurjara. They mentioned it jointly with ''Mermad'' (Marumāda, in Western Rajasthan) and ''Al Baylaman'' (Bhinmal). The country was first conquered by Mohammad bin Qasim (712-715) and, for a second time, by Junayd (723-726). Upon bin Qasim's victory, Al-Baladhuri mentioned that the Indian rulers, including that of Bhinmal, accepted Islam and paid tribute. They presumably recanted after bin Qasim's departure, which made Junayd's attack necessary. After Junayd's reconquest, the kingdom at Bhinmal appears to have been annexed by the Arabs.

A new dynasty was founded by Nagabhata I at Jalore, in the vicinity of Bhinmal, in about 730 CE, soon after Junayd's end of term in Sindh. Nagabhata is said to have defeated the "invincible Gurjaras," presumably those of Bhinmal. Another account credits him for having defeated a "Muslim ruler." Nagabhata is also known to have repelled the Arabs during a later raid.

The Gwalior Inscription of Mihira Bhoja praises Nagabhata for destroying mlecchas ( Arabs)

"स्तस्यानुजोसौ मघवमदमुषो मेघनादस्य संख्ये सौमित्त्रिस्तीव्रदण्डः प्रतिहरणविधेयः प्रतीहार आमोत्
तहन्शे प्रतिहारकेतनभृति त्रैलोक्यरक्षास्पदे देवो
नागभट : पुरातनमुनर्मूतिर्बभूवाद्भुतं ।
येनासौ सुक्कतप्रमाथिबलनम्लेच्छा।।

His dynasty later expanded to Ujjain, Nagabhata's successor Vatsaraja lost Ujjain to the Rashtrakuta prince Dhruva, who claimed to have driven him into "trackless desert", which might mean that Vatsaraja withdrew to Bhinmal. An inscription in Daulatpura from 843 AD mentions Vatsaraja having made grants near Didwana. In due course, the Pratiharas became the dominant force of the entire Rajasthan and Gujarat regions, establishing a powerful empire centered at Kannauj, the former capital of Harshavardhana. Raja Man Pratihar was ruling Bhinmal in Jalore when Parmara Emperor Vakpati Munja(972-990 CE) invaded the region — after this conquest he divided these conquered territories among his Parmara princes - his son Aranyaraj Parmar was granted Abu region, his son, Chandan Parmar and his nephew, Dharnivarah Parmar was given Jalore region. This ended almost 250 years Pratihar rule over Bhinmal. Raja Man Pratihar's son Dewalsimha Pratihar was a contemporary of Abu's Raja Mahipal Parmar (1000-1014 CE). Raja Devalsimha made many attempts to free his country or to re-establish Pratihar hold onto Bhinmal but in vain. Finally he settled for the territories in Southwest of Bhinmal, comprising four hills - Dodasa, Nadwana,Kala-Pahad and Sundha. He made Lohiyana (present Jaswantpura) his capital. Hence this subclan became Dewal Pratihars. Gradually their jagir included 52 villages in and around modern Jalore district. The Dewals participated in Jalore's Chauhan Kanhaddeo's resistance against Allauddin Khilji. Thakur Dhawalsimha Dewal of Lohiyana supplied manpower to Maharana Pratap and married his daughter to the Maharana, in return Maharana gave him the title of "Rana" which has stayed with them until this day Ala ud din Khilji as the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty also destroyed and looted Srimala (ancient Bhinmal) when he conquered Jalore in 1310 AD. Prior to that, Srimala was a premier city of northwestern India. The city was laid out in the shape of a square. It has 84 gates. The mid-15th-century chronicle ''Kanhadade Prabandha'' provides descriptions of indiscriminate attacks by Muslims on Bhinmal.

The city of Bhinmal had four gates. At a distance of 8 kilometres in the north there was the Jalori gate, in the south Laxmi gate, in the east the Sun gate and in the west Sanchori gate.

Hinduism and Jainism

According to the Chinese traveller Xuanzang, the King of Bhinmal was a believer in Buddhism and Jainism and a man of exceptional abilities. Brahmanism and Jainism dominated the city. There was only one Buddhist monastery with 100 monks in 'Buddha Vaas' neighbourhood.

There were several temples to Jain Tirthankar and Hindu gods such as Ganapati, Kshetrapala, Chandikadevi, and Shiva. The Sun temple of Bhinmal known as ''Jagatsvami'' was one of the earliest and most famous temples of Rajasthan. The temple had beautiful ''torana'' (archway). The temple was perhaps built during the reign of Gurjara Pratiharas who were sun worshippers. In ancient times, the festival was held at temple in the Hindu calendar month of Asvin.

There were also a number of Jain temples, the one of Mahavira (''Mhaveerji'') being the most famous. This temple was built by king Kumarapala and established by Acharya Hemachandra, dedicated to first Jain Tirthankar Rishabha. Currently, the temple is dedicated to the 24th Jain Tirthankar Mahavira, re-established by Vidhyachandra Suri of Tapagachha, belonging to the Tristutik sect.

Stone inscriptions of the year 1333 of the Vikrama Samvat (1277 AD) are found among ruins of some ancient temples across the town. There are signs that Lord Mahavira Swami, the 24th Jain Tirthankar, walked here, known as 'jeevit swami'.

This city has witnessed many rises and falls. Stone inscriptions of the year 1333 of the Vikrama Samvat (1277 AD) are found among ruins of temples. There are signs here and there showing that Lord Mahavira Swami, the 24th Jain Tirthankar wandered about here. They can provide historical evidence to researchers.

There was a time when this city had a circumference of 64 kilometres and the fort had 84 gates. From the seventh to the tenth century, talented Jain monk/writer Acharya Haribhadra, Mundas Gani, Udayprabhsuri, Mahnedrsuri, Rajendrasuri and many more created here valuable Jain literature and sanctified and beautified this place. The temple of the 23rd Jain Tirthankar Parshvanatha in Hathipole area is considered very ancient. This temple has great archaeological importance. A golden idol of Shri Parshvanatha in '' Padmasana'' posture is the presiding deity.

Apart from the many ancient Jain temples across the town, there is a temple of Jains called 72 Jinalayas - the 72 temple complex with the 72 Tirthakar (24 past + 24 future + 24 current), as per Jainism. It is the largest Jain temple, which took 19 years to complete. It was made by a family of builders loonkars the owners of a modern leading company Sumer. Another significant temple complex dedicated to Mahavir Swami and Osia Mataji called as Bafna Waddi Tirth is there just outside the town.

Out of 108 Parshvanatha, "Shri Bhaya-Bhanjan Parshvanatha" is also located in the town where thousands of Jain and other pilgrims come to the town and offer their prayer here.

Jain Tirth Bhandavpur, another ancient Jain centre which is now a major pilgrimage place is located about 46 km north of Bhinmal.

Shrimala

Bhinmal was also called Shrimala, recorded in a thirteenth century text '' Shramali Purana''. The Brahmins and merchants of Bhinmal were called Shrimali Brahmanas and ''Shrimali Vaniyas'' respectively. After Vanaraja Chavda established a new capital at Patan, the symbolic centre of these communities shifted to Patan. The main image of Mahalakshmi was shifted from Bhinmal to Patan in 1147 AD.

Geography

Bhinmal is located at . It has an average elevation of 155.33 metres (479 feet).

Infrastructure

Transport

Bhinmal is connected to Rajasthan state and other major cities of India by road as well as rail. The local transportation system within the city includes Auto-Rikshas and buses.

Bhinmal is on the Samadari-Bhildi section of the North Western Railway. The name of the railway station is Marwar Bhinmal railway station. The railway tracks are broad gauge.

Bhinmal is connected to all major cities by all weather roads.

Electricity

There is one sub grid station of 400/220 KV at Bhinmal. The town receives power from Power Grid Corporation of India limited's grid station in bhinmal alore District Almost all villages of the Bhinmal subdivision are electrified.

The city electricity board is operated by Jodhpur Vidhut Vitran Nigam Limited and its office is located at Station Road Bhinmal for O&M and its transmission system is operated from Raniwara road, through 220 kv GSS under RVPNL

Water

The town gets drinking water from Nimbawas, and Rajpura. The drinking water supply is managed by PHED (water dept. of Govt. of Rajasthan), while the main source of irrigation for farmers continues to be from wells.

Accommodation

There are many hotels in the town. The heritage hotel known as Castle Durjan Niwas is at village Daspan 25 km from Bhinmal. There is a Government rest house run by the Public Works Department (PWD).

Education

The town has a graduate/degree college called G K Gowani Govt. College affiliated to Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur and accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). On 23 August 2013 Bhinmal College was upgraded to post-graduate by the Department of College Education, Govt of Rajasthan. Now GK Gowani Govt College, Bhinmal will act as the post-graduate extension centre (Hindi) to cater to the higher educational needs of rural and semi urban students of town and this region.

There are three higher secondary and about 45 primary and middle schools in Bhinmal. This city also has a Govt. Girls School (Govt.G.Sec.Sr.Sch.) up to senior secondary level.

Bhinmal has more than 160 primary and middle schools run by the education department of Rajasthan government as well as the private sector. Career Academy Sr. Sec. School , Adrash Vidhya Mandir Sr. Sec., Madhav International School and Vidya Bhawan English Medium School are some private schools in Bhinmal.

Communication

* Telecommunications: All the basic phone and cellphone service provider companies have their network in Bhinmal. Broadband and dial-up Internet and fax services are available at the main tel.exchange building of BSNL. Apart from BSNL, all private mobile service operators like airtel, Idea Cellular, MTS, Vodafone, Reliance, Aircel and Tata Indicom provide cellphone services.
* Post: The Bhinmal Post Office has broadband and leased line connectivity to provide web-enabled services like e-post, instant money order, electronic money order, Internet-based customer care services and cyber cafe.

Medical facility

Bhinmal town has good medical facilities. The town has a government referral hospital near Gandhi Maidaan and many private hospitals. There is an Aryuvedic hospital as well. There are about 13 private hospitals in Bhinmal city.

Sports

Shivaraj Stadium was inaugurated by staging the Ranji trophy match in December 1985 between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It has indoor and outdoor games facilities. The yearly state level badminton tournament is held here.

Banking

Four nationalised banks, UCO Bank, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra bank, Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Axis bank and State Bank of India have their branches here.

Some co-operative and local banks also have their branches in the town. They are Jalore Nagrik Sahakari Bank ltd., Adrash cooperative bank, Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Marwar Gramin Bank, Jalore Central Cooperative Bank, Bhumi Vikas Bank and N.P credit co-op society ltd.

Library

The town has two public libraries; one is managed by the municipality and the other by Saraswati Temple Trust.

Administrative set-up

* The town is one of two subdivisions in Jalore district.
* The Bhinmal subdivision covers three tehsils: Bhinmal, Sanchore and Raniwara and four panchayat samitis, namely Bhinmal, Sanchore, Raniwara and Jaswantpura.
* Civic affairs are administered by the Bhinmal Municipal Council (BMC) (Nagarpalika Mandal Bhinmal), with executive power vested in the Municipal executive officer. The Council comprises 25 directly elected councillors representing the twenty five municipal wards. Three nominated Councillors and a local MLA also have the rights of councillor.
* The Bhinmal subdivision area is under the jurisdiction of a Deputy District Collector/Sub divisional Officer (SDO). Current SDO/SDM - Shri Om Prakash .
* Bhinmal has a septate District Transport Office (DTO) including Vehicle Registration Code RJ-46 allotted by Transport Department of Govt of Rajasthan on 19 July 2013.
* Bhinmal Tehsildar is in charge of property records and revenue collection of Bhinmal tehsil
* The Bhinmal Police are headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police who is an IPS officer.
* Bhinmal also has a lower court, the Small Causes Court, for civil matters and the Sessions Court for criminal cases.
* Bhinmal constituency elects one member to the Vidhan Sabha (Rajasthan State Assembly)
* Sanwalaram Dewasi is selected as Mayor(chairman) of Municipality Bhinmal
* Pooraram Choudhary is elected as MLA of Bhinmal in State Legislative Assembly.
* Channi Deram Bishnoi is elected as pradhan of p.s. Bhinmal.

Demography

India census, Bhinmal had a population of 3,02,553. Rural population was 2,54,621, urban population was 47,932, Males constituted 50.6% of the population and females 49.4%. Bhinmal had an average literacy rate of 53.6%, lower than the national average of 74%, with male literacy of 70.2% and female literacy of 36.8%. 17% of the population were under 6 years of age.

Temples in Bhinmal

Jain temples

* Laxmi vallabha Parshvanatha (72 Jeenalay or Bahattar Jinalaya - complex of 72 temples dedicated to 72 Jain Tirthankara), Jalore Road
* Mahavira Swami Jain temple
* Parshvanatha Jain temple (Hathi pole)
* Shantinath Jain temple (Ganesh chowk)
* Gandhi Mehta Ka Vaas (4 Jain temple complex dedicated to Vasupujyaswami, Shantinatha, Parshvanatha and Mahavira Swami)
* Nakoda Parshvanatha Jain temple
* Riddhi-Siddhi Parshvanatha Jain Temple
* Chomukhji Jain temple
* Manmohan Parshvanatha Jain temple
* Jagawallabh Parshvanatha Jain temple (famous as Pratap Sarai Jain Temple)
* Padmaprabhu Jain temple (Magh colony)
* Jeerawalla Parshvanatha Jain temple
* Seemandhar swami Jain temple (Rath Mandir)
* Shankheshwar Parshvanatha Jain temple complex
* Gaudi Parshvanatha Jain temple
* Kirti Stambh Jain Temple (Tower Temple)
* Bafna Wadi Jain Tirth (Lord Mahavira)
* Shankheshwar Parshvanatha Temple, Dhora-Dhal
* Kunthunathji Jain Temple, Hundia Street

Hindu temples

* Kshemkari Mata Temple / Khimat (SEMOJ) Mataji (Mataji ki Bhakri temple) - Kul Devi of Shandilya Gotra in Rabari khatana Shrimali Brahmins, Doshi's, Vanigota's, Solanki's, Morakhiya's and in all 84 total kul (sect)
* Nagdevta Temple (Gogaji) at Mataji Road - Kuladevata of Jogani
* Varaha Shyam temple
* Chandinath temple, Kuladevata of Gautam Gotra in Shrimali Brahmins
* Neel Kantha Mahadev Temple (dewasi coloni)
* Aasapura mataji temple (bhato ka was)
* Mahalaxmi temple, Mahalaxmi road, Kuldevi of Chandras Gotra in Shrimali Brahmins
* Mahalakshmi Kamaleshwari temple, Dhora-dhal, First built in tenth century BCE, rebuilt in 4th century BCE, later rebuilt in first century CE, renovated in 13th century CE, Kuldevi of Kaushik Gotra of Shrimali Brahmins
* Baba Ramdevji temple, mataji ki bhakri, meghwal samaj
* Gayatri temple
* Fafariya Hanuman temple
* Baba Ramdevji temple Jeengar bazar
* Vishwakarma temple
* Kashi Vishwanath mandir Jeengar Bazar
* Saraswati temple
* Lord Shanidev Temple, near old police station
* Hanuman Mandir Lakharo ka chohata
* Charbhuja temple (main market)
* Ardhnareshwar Mahadev mandir
* Varunachi yogeshwari mandir
* Priyuteshwar mahadev mandir
* Siddhivinayak mandir
* Guru Jambheshwar mandir Char Rasta Bhinmal
* Dhundhleshwar Mahadev Temple, Gajipura, Bhinmal
* Boteshwar mahadev Temple, Karlu
* Sundha mataji temple undhaparvat* Hanumanji mandir sawidhar
* Vatyakshni mataji mandir
* Bindukshini Mataji Mandir Kuldevi of Bhardwaj Gotra Shrimali Brahmana
* Lord Rajeshwar mandir bhinmal (Choudhary)
* Varahashayamji mandir bhinmal
* Kalka Maa Mandir (Balotiya Kuldevi) (17th century)
* Ganga mata mandir, Jatiya Mohalla, Bhinmal
* Raneshwar Mahadev Mandir, Jakob Talab (Mali malaram chothaji gehlot)
* Gajanan Saidham, Bhinmal near Shivraj Stadium, Jalore
* Pragteshwar Mahadev Temple, near Yagyi's Niwas
* Ambe Mata Mandir, Kshemakari road near dhora dhal, Bhinmal
* Tryambakeshvar Mahadev Mandir

Monuments

* Dadeli Baori
* Chandinath Baori ( Bavadi) (9th century)
* Jeevdaya Gaushala
* Jakoba Talab (8th century)
* Bal samundra pond
* Trayamkeshwer pond

Distances

Nearest airports:
* Jodhpur 200 km; Udaipur 230 km;Ahmedabad: 280 km

Nearest airstrips:
* Noon Jalore; Sirohi; Abu Road; Deesa.

By road
* Jodhpur :200 km; Jalore:72 km; Sirohi:73 km; Mount Abu:170 km; Palanpur:120 km
* Ranakpur:140 km; Jaisalmer:335 km; Ahmedabad: 315 km; Abu Road:125 km

Bhinmal in the news

During construction work at the premises of Shri Parshwa Nath temple at Bhinmal town in the Jalore district of Rajasthan, a 450-year-old temple structure was un-earthed in 2002 at a depth of 30 feet. The temple possesses five images of Jain Tirthankars, made of white marble. One inscription on a pillar in the temple premises shows the year 1621 Vikram Samvat, along with other descriptions about the temple.

A docudrama (documentary) made on Bhinmal village, ''My Beautiful Village Bhinmal'', by Azad Jain, won "Best Documentary-Writing" Award in Rolling Frames Short Film Summit, Bangalore, in 2014. It was also screened at the Ekotop Junior Film Festival, Slovak Republic, Europe, Pink City Short Film Festival, Jaipur, and Wanderlust Film Festival, Jaisalmer. Leading newspapers from Rajasthan mentioned it as it was the only film in the festival about a Rajasthani village and its people.

See also

* Kshemkari Mata Temple
* 72 Jinalaya Temple
*Bhandavapur

References

Bibliography

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*Campbell, James MacNabb; Reginald Edward Enthoven (1901). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Govt. Central Press, 2. .
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*Malabari, Behramji Merwanji; Krishnalal M. Jhaveri (1998). Gujarat and the Gujaratis: Pictures of Men and Manners Taken from Life. Asian Educational Services, .
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External links

अब जल्द ही सेना का टी-55 टैंक महावीर सर्किल पर दिखेगा

{{Rajasthan

Cities and towns in Jalore district
Former capital cities in India