Outline History of Patan
By Mr. Yashwant Malaiya, E-Mail : ymalaiya@yahoo.com
The city of Patan (which is short for Anahila-Pattan) has been intimately connected with Jainism, in fact it has been one of the most important centers of Jainism. History of Patan is recorded in books like Prabhachandra Suri's Prabhavaka-charitra (1276), Merutunga Suri's Prabandha-chintamani (1306) and several other books.
Here is a brief outline.
Vanaraja born to queen of slain Chapotkata king Jayashekhara of Panchsara in a forest
Acharya Shilagunasuri predicts Vanaraja will be a king and will promote Jainisn
746 CE : Vanaraja settles Anahilla Pattan on the banks of Sarasvati river
Vanaraja is crowned king by Shilaguanasuri and Devachandrasuri
Shravakas start moving from Bhinmal (Shrimal) to Patan
: Vanaraja builds Panchasara Parshvanath temple at Patan
942 : Mularaja Chaulukya takes Patan and builds a Digambara and a Shvtambara temple there. Founds branch of Chaulukya (Solanki) family there.
1024 : Jineshvara Suri debates Chaityavasis, Kharatara Gachcha formed at Patan
1088 : Changadeva (later Hemachandra Suri) born at Dhundhak
1094-1143 : Jayasimha Siddharaj rules
1109 : Hemachandra becomes Acharya at age 21. He composed Siddha-Hema Vyakarana, Trishashthi - Shalaka - Purusha - Charitra and numerous other books.
1125 : Meeting between Devasuri and Kumudachandra
1143-1175 : Kumarapala rules and takes vratas of a shravaka
1800 karorpati shravakas in Patan according to Kumarpal Pratobodh
1119-1144 : Famine in Bhinmal causing people to move to Patan
1147 : Mahalakshmi idol moved from Bhinmal to Patan
1173 : Acharya Hemachandra passes away
1240 : Vastupal renovates Panchasar Parshvanath temple at Patan and establishes 3 granth-bhandaras at Patan
1300 : Alaudin Khalji conquers Gujarat
1315 : A new Patan built to replace destroyed city (as mentioned by Ambadeva Suri)
1315 : Alap Khan permits Samru Shah of Patan to renovate temples at Shatrunjaya
1375 : Jinodaya Suri spends chatirmas at Patan request of mantri Vira
1411 : Gujarat's capital shifted to Ahmedabad by Ahmed Shah, causes gradual decline of Patan
1763 Maratha Damajirao Gaekwad captures Patan
1766 : Maratha capital shifted to Patan, wall around Patan built
1768 : Baroda becomes the Gaekwad capital, Patan again declines
1817 : British take Ahmedabad which becomes an economic center
Late 19th cent : Patan people start moving to Bombay
19-20th Century : Gradual decline of Yatis and popularity of Samvegi (wandering) monks
1876 : Atmaramji becomes Acharya Ananadavijaya at Palitana
1899 : Bhjojanshala started
1904 : Patan Jains led by Amichand Pannalal, build Adisvar Jain Teple of Valkeshvar at Bombay.
1909 : Fourteen upashrayas and Poshadhashalas belong to 6 ghachchhas (Jain Shvetambara Directory)
Some Patan Jains move to Kobe Japan
1925 : Mandap Upashray built
1942-1960 : Panchasara Parshvanath temple rebuilt
1901 : Jains are now 15% of Patan's population
1920-30 : wealth flows into Patan from overseas trade
1930 : Granth Bhandaras consolidated into Hemachandra Jnan mandir
1971 : Jains are 5.66% of Patan's population
1970 : Two new dharmashalas built
1980 : Bhogilal Laharchand Institute of Indology started at Patan
1987 : Rebuilding of Shamalji Parshvanath temple.
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