Osian
Encyclopedia
Osian is an ancient town located in the Jodhpur District
of Rajasthan
state in western India
. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert-http://marupradesh.org/, 65 km (40.4 mi) north of the district headquarters at Jodhpur
, on a diversion off the main Jodhpur – Bikaner Highway.It is also known as Khajuraho
of Rajasthan
.
Osian is famous as home to the cluster of ruined Brahmanical and Jain temples dating from the 8th to 11th centuries. The city was a major religious centre of the kingdom of Marwar
during the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. Of the 18 shrines in the group, the Surya
or Sun
Temple and the later Kali
temple, Sachiya Mata Temple
and the main Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira
stands out in their grace and architecture.
The nearest airport is at Jodhpur
. National Highway 11 passes through Osian. Osian Railway Station is situated on the Jodhpur – Phalodi
line of North Western Railway
.Astonfield Renewable Resources Limited (ARRL) is developing a solar power project in the town currently, which will be the first industry in this holy town.
Osian is a small village 65 km (40.4 mi) north-east of Jodhpur
. It is an important Jain pilgrimage center for the Oswal Jain community. The (Mahavira
, महावीर) Temple, built here in A. D. 783, is an important tirtha
for Jains
built by Gurjara Pratihara King Vatsaraja.
The Jain Harivamsa Purana refers to Vatsaraja's rule in Saka
year 705 (A. D. 783). It is believed that he was highly influiential in Upakesapura (Osian), as inscriptions of Vikram Samvat dating back to 1013 (A. D. 956), and referring to this place, have been found.
In "Nabhinandana-jirnodhara Prabandha" -:Upakesapura has been described as the 'Svastika' (a mystical mark denoting good luck) of the earth, an ornament of the desert endowed with natural beauty where the groves are full of trees and the noble ascetics are wifeless (adara), but amongst the citizens none are like that; where the beautiful damsels and the peacocks educate each other without formal instructions merely by observing each other's graceful gait; where the tanks are replete with fully blossomed lotuses and the nocturnal darkness is dispelled by the light emanating from the luminous gems and where the rays of moon entering during the night through latticed windows in the houses of fair ladies, separated from their spouses, appear like the silver-arrows hurled by Cupid. Shorn of its usual literary exaggerations, the description does indicate that Osian was an important flourishing town then. The derivation of the cast name Oswal from Osian - the place name also sounds acceptable as it is a common practice in India to derive the family names from place names.
Ratnaprabhasuriji, who had impressed the populace of the region by his supernatural powers.
A niche in Mahavira
Temple contains sculpture of interwined snakes which also is worshipped by Oswal Jain, as adhisthatyaka - devetas. This leads us to believe that a sizeable part of the populace in that period may have belonged to naga
extraction. Nagabhata II
was a Pratihara
ruler of Mandore
near Jodhpur
. It is said that the Nagabhata II
must have defeated the nagas and so he must have been given the name Nagabhatta which means 'master of nagas'. 'Nagabhatta' the son of 'Narbhatta' of Mandore
line established his capital at Merta near Nagaur
, whose old name as Nagapura. The Pratiharas may have conquered these areas from the nagas. Nagapriyagachha of Jain also indicates in the same direction.
The Nagas of Osian and surrounding region, thus seem to have continued serpent worship even after their conversion to Jainism
and for this reason their parallel worship of Sachiya Mata by Oswal Jain community seems relevant.
The Sachiya Mata Temple
also equally old and important situated on a hill north-east of Mahavira
Temple, enable us some clues to understand the social history of that period. This Temple was built by Upaldev who is the brother of Raja Punj the son of King 'Bheemsain' (king of Bhinmal
).
This has many decorative features of a Jain temple. However, it is dedicated to Sachiya Mata, though Jains also worship here, which also is a matter of interest to understand the emergence of Jain community in this city.
The Bafna
clan of Jain community conduct their 'Mundan-Sanskar' in Sachiya Mata Temple
there is most famous personality in there this is Bheem Carpernter,
Mundel (Jats) carry out their mundan-sanskar at sachiya mata temple, Osian.
Jodhpur district
Jodhpur District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Jodhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Rajasthan , after Jaipur.-History:...
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
state in western India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert-http://marupradesh.org/, 65 km (40.4 mi) north of the district headquarters at Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
, on a diversion off the main Jodhpur – Bikaner Highway.It is also known as Khajuraho
Khajuraho
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Khajuraho , a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about southeast of New Delhi, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for...
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Osian is famous as home to the cluster of ruined Brahmanical and Jain temples dating from the 8th to 11th centuries. The city was a major religious centre of the kingdom of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
during the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. Of the 18 shrines in the group, the Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
or Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
Temple and the later Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
temple, Sachiya Mata Temple
Sachiya Mata Temple
Sachiya Mata , The mother goddess, is worshipped as Kuldevi by Marwadi Maheshwari, Panwar Rajputs/Parmar Rajputs, Oswal, Charans, Jains,Pareek [bhramin] and many other castes living in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Her temple is located in Ossian, near Jodhpur city of Rajasthan...
and the main Jain temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
stands out in their grace and architecture.
The nearest airport is at Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. National Highway 11 passes through Osian. Osian Railway Station is situated on the Jodhpur – Phalodi
Phalodi
Phalodi is a city and a municipality in Jodhpur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated between latitude 27°-06 to 27°-09 north and 72°-20 to 72°-23east. It has an average elevation of 303 metres...
line of North Western Railway
North Western Railway
The North Western Railway is one of the sixteen railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Jaipur. It comprises four divisions: Jodhpur and reorganized Bikaner division of the erstwhile Northern Railway and reorganized Jaipur and Ajmer divisions of the erstwhile Western Railway. This zone...
.Astonfield Renewable Resources Limited (ARRL) is developing a solar power project in the town currently, which will be the first industry in this holy town.
History of Osian
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. It is an important Jain pilgrimage center for the Oswal Jain community. The (Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
, महावीर) Temple, built here in A. D. 783, is an important tirtha
Tirtha
In Jainism, a tīrtha |ford]], a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha...
for Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
built by Gurjara Pratihara King Vatsaraja.
The Jain Harivamsa Purana refers to Vatsaraja's rule in Saka
Saka
The Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
year 705 (A. D. 783). It is believed that he was highly influiential in Upakesapura (Osian), as inscriptions of Vikram Samvat dating back to 1013 (A. D. 956), and referring to this place, have been found.
Osian and Jainism
It is conjectured from several evidences that the people of Osian were converted to Jainism by Jain AcharyaAcharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Ratnaprabhasuriji, who had impressed the populace of the region by his supernatural powers.
A niche in Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
Temple contains sculpture of interwined snakes which also is worshipped by Oswal Jain, as adhisthatyaka - devetas. This leads us to believe that a sizeable part of the populace in that period may have belonged to naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
extraction. Nagabhata II
Nagabhata II
Nagabhata II ascended the throne of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty after his father Vatsaraja. His mother was queen Sundari-Devi. He was designated with imperial titles - Paramabhattaraka, Maharajadhiraja, and Paramesvara after conquest of Kannauj.-Reign:Nagabhata II finds a mention in the Gwalior...
was a Pratihara
Pratihara
The Gurjara Pratihara , often simply called Pratihara Empire, was an imperial Indian dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. At its peak of prosperity and power , the Gurajara-Pratihara Empire rivaled or even exceeded the Gupta Empire in the extent of its...
ruler of Mandore
Mandore
Mandore , is a town located 9 km north of Jodhpur city, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.-History:Mandore is an ancient town, and was the seat of the Mandorva branch of the Parihar dynasty which ruled the region in the 6th century AD by King Nahar Rao Parihar...
near Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. It is said that the Nagabhata II
Nagabhata II
Nagabhata II ascended the throne of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty after his father Vatsaraja. His mother was queen Sundari-Devi. He was designated with imperial titles - Paramabhattaraka, Maharajadhiraja, and Paramesvara after conquest of Kannauj.-Reign:Nagabhata II finds a mention in the Gwalior...
must have defeated the nagas and so he must have been given the name Nagabhatta which means 'master of nagas'. 'Nagabhatta' the son of 'Narbhatta' of Mandore
Mandore
Mandore , is a town located 9 km north of Jodhpur city, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.-History:Mandore is an ancient town, and was the seat of the Mandorva branch of the Parihar dynasty which ruled the region in the 6th century AD by King Nahar Rao Parihar...
line established his capital at Merta near Nagaur
Nagaur
Nagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagaur District. The Nagaur city lies about midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It was founded by the Naga Kshatriyas.- History :...
, whose old name as Nagapura. The Pratiharas may have conquered these areas from the nagas. Nagapriyagachha of Jain also indicates in the same direction.
The Nagas of Osian and surrounding region, thus seem to have continued serpent worship even after their conversion to Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
and for this reason their parallel worship of Sachiya Mata by Oswal Jain community seems relevant.
The Sachiya Mata Temple
Sachiya Mata Temple
Sachiya Mata , The mother goddess, is worshipped as Kuldevi by Marwadi Maheshwari, Panwar Rajputs/Parmar Rajputs, Oswal, Charans, Jains,Pareek [bhramin] and many other castes living in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Her temple is located in Ossian, near Jodhpur city of Rajasthan...
also equally old and important situated on a hill north-east of Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
Temple, enable us some clues to understand the social history of that period. This Temple was built by Upaldev who is the brother of Raja Punj the son of King 'Bheemsain' (king of Bhinmal
Bhinmal
Bhinmal is a town in the Jalore District of Rajasthan, India. It is 72 km south of Jalore town. The name Bhinmal is derived from the word Shrimal.Bhinmal was old capital of the kingdom of the Gurjars during medieval period....
).
This has many decorative features of a Jain temple. However, it is dedicated to Sachiya Mata, though Jains also worship here, which also is a matter of interest to understand the emergence of Jain community in this city.
The Bafna
Bafna
Bafna also spelt Bafana is an Indian Jain community, and also the surname used by this community. The name is derived from Bahufana and Bafanha. They were originally Hindu Rajput and later converted to Jainism. However, they still continue to follow their earlier Hindu traditions as were allowed...
clan of Jain community conduct their 'Mundan-Sanskar' in Sachiya Mata Temple
Sachiya Mata Temple
Sachiya Mata , The mother goddess, is worshipped as Kuldevi by Marwadi Maheshwari, Panwar Rajputs/Parmar Rajputs, Oswal, Charans, Jains,Pareek [bhramin] and many other castes living in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Her temple is located in Ossian, near Jodhpur city of Rajasthan...
there is most famous personality in there this is Bheem Carpernter,
Mundel (Jats) carry out their mundan-sanskar at sachiya mata temple, Osian.