Sarawagi
Encyclopedia
The Sarawagi or Saraogi Jain
community, meaning a Jain Śrāvaka
, is also known as the Khandelwali. They originated from Khandela
, a historical town in northern Rajasthan.
The Sarawagi community owes its name to a strong historical association with Jainism. Also technically the term Sarawagi or shravaka is applicable to all Jains, the Khandelwal Jains is the only community that has used it extensively.
The Khandelwals have 84 divisions. The legendary origin of these divisions is given in a 17th century book, "Shravakotpatti Varnanam". It mentions how a the ruler Girakhandel of Khandela was planning to sacrifice one thousand Jain monks in a naramedha yajña
. However, with the assistance of goddess Chakreshvari
, muni Jinasena
persuaded the ruler to give up violence. The ruler along with his 83 chiefs became Jain Śrāvakas, giving rise to 84 gotra
.
A large section of Sarawagi's are Agarwal Sarawagis. They are from Churu and adjoining districts of Rajasthan.
The Mahasabha has been revived recently, its current office is in Lucknow
.
It has recently several published directories. So far the community count has been done for 1794 towns with 29,944 families and 185,556 individuals. This does not include the city of Jaipur, which is the largest center.
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...
community, meaning a Jain Śrāvaka
Sravaka
Shravaka or Śrāvaka or Sāvaka means "hearer" or, more generally, "disciple".This term is used by both Buddhists and Jains. In Jainism, a shravaka is any lay Jain...
, is also known as the Khandelwali. They originated from Khandela
Khandela
Khandela is a city and municipality located within the Sikar district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is known to be the place where the Rajputs converted into a Banya clan by name of Maheshwari...
, a historical town in northern Rajasthan.
The Sarawagi community owes its name to a strong historical association with Jainism. Also technically the term Sarawagi or shravaka is applicable to all Jains, the Khandelwal Jains is the only community that has used it extensively.
The Khandelwals have 84 divisions. The legendary origin of these divisions is given in a 17th century book, "Shravakotpatti Varnanam". It mentions how a the ruler Girakhandel of Khandela was planning to sacrifice one thousand Jain monks in a naramedha yajña
Yajna
In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
. However, with the assistance of goddess Chakreshvari
Chakreshvari
In Jain cosmology, Chakreshvari or Apraticakra is the guardian goddess or Yakshini of Rishabha, the first Tirthankara. She is the tutelary deity of the Sarawagi Jain community.-Iconogrphy:...
, muni Jinasena
Jinasena
Jinasena is the name of several famous Jain Acharyas of the Digambar tradition.* The author of Harivamsha Purana in the 8th century. He belonged to the Punnata branch of Jain monks....
persuaded the ruler to give up violence. The ruler along with his 83 chiefs became Jain Śrāvakas, giving rise to 84 gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
.
Organizations
The Khandelwal Digambar Jain Mahasabha was founded by Lunkaran Pandya of Jhalarapatan and Padam Chand Benara of Agra (both then living in Bombay) on Feb. 28, 1916 in Bombay. The first convention of the Mahasabha was held in 1920, where the publication of "Khandelwal jain Hitechchhu" was initiated. Several regional branches of the Mahasabha were established, however they all became inactive around 1932.A large section of Sarawagi's are Agarwal Sarawagis. They are from Churu and adjoining districts of Rajasthan.
The Mahasabha has been revived recently, its current office is in Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
.
It has recently several published directories. So far the community count has been done for 1794 towns with 29,944 families and 185,556 individuals. This does not include the city of Jaipur, which is the largest center.
Prominent Khandelwal Jains
- Tejsi Udaikaran Ji (Udaibabaji) of Newta, a village in Jaipur did pratistha of Samyakgyan Shakti Yantra in Panchkalyanak Prathistha in Girnar Ji, and installed it in Temple Mandirji Patodiyan in Jaipur in year 1709.
- Jivaraj PapriwalJivaraj PapriwalJivaraja Paprival was the legendary installer of as many as 100,000 Jain images in 15th century, now found in Jain temples all over India. He was a trader in the Rajasthani town of Mudasa in 15th century....
(who installed 100,000 pratimas during 1480-91) - Pandit TodarmalPandit TodarmalPandit Todarmal was an eminent Indian scholar on Jainism and writer in Jaipur.Pt. Todarmal had an organized system for preservation and study of Jain texts. About 10 to 12 copyists were engaged to make hand written copies of important texts in different parts of the country...
(1719–1766), author of Moksh Marg PrakashakMoksh Marg PrakashakMoksh Marg Prakashak is a book written by Pandit Todarmal. The book could not be completed by Todarmal due to his death and is thus incomplete after the middle of the ninth chapter. "Moksha marg prakashak" means the illuminator of the path to liberation. It is a polemic book written from the... - Poet Bhudhardas (Samvat 1750-1806) http://www.jainworld.com/education/veetrag2/lesson09.htm
- Poet Budhjan, sam. 1820-1895.
- Sir Seth Bhagchand Soni of Ajmer
- Tarachand BarjatyaTarachand BarjatyaTarachand Barjatya was a well known film producer of Indian films. He has produced many successful Hindi films from the 1960s through to the 1980s. He founded Rajshri Productions which continues to produce films even today. His mainstay was family oriented films based on human valuesHe was born...
founder of Rajshri ProductionsRajshri ProductionsRajshri Productions Pvt. Ltd. is a Hindi film production company. Rajshri partially works as a film distributor also. On 15 August 1947, Tarachand Barjatya established Rajshri Pictures Ltd., the film distribution division of Rajshri.... - Late Seth Hiralalji Badjatya (Jeweller)
- Late Sir Seth Hukamchand Kasliwal of Indore, Pioneering Indian industrialist
- Late Munsi Payara Lal Kasliwal, Counsel Member-Finance of Jaipur of Jaipur State, Founder President of Shree Mahaveer ji and continuued for more than 20 years
- Col.(Dr.) Rajmal Kasliwal, Freedom Fighteer, Ex-Principal SMS Medical College,Jaipur
- Seth Jambukumarji Baj ,Kota
- Mr Manak Chand Paliwal,a Freedom Fighter,Industrialist and Social activist who migrated from Pali[Marwar] to Kota and contributed a lot in development of new Kota by relocating Mandi at New Grain Mandi.His son Vijay Singh Paliwal a Chemical Engineer and Grandson Vidit Paliwal a Doon School and LNM-IIT alumni and founder of BigStep Technology Pvt Ltd,Gurgaon.