Bhinmal

History

The original name of Bhinmal was Bhillamala, the plateau of Bhils. It was the early capital of the kingdom of Gurjaradesa, a name derived from the Gurjara people. 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 631-645 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, who was distinguished for his wisdom and courage. It is believed that the king must have been the immediate successor of the Chapa dynasty ruler Vyāgrahamukha, under whose reign the mathematician-astronomer Brahmagupta wrote his famous treatise in 628 AD.

The Arab 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. His dynasty later expanded to Ujjain and called itself Pratihara. 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.

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 of 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 time, 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 1st 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, wandered 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. This city looked beautiful with hundreds of pinnacled temples. From the 7th to the 10th 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 Hathi pole area is regarded to be 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 comlex with the 72 Tirthakar (24 Past + 24 Future + 24 Current)as per jainism. It is the largest jain temple which conclude 19 years of its making. One more 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" also located in the town where thousands of Jain and other pilgrims come to the town and offer their prayer here.

Culture and science

Bhinmal was a great centre of learning. Brahmagupta, the well-known mathematicians astronomer, born in 598 AD is often referred to as Bhillamalacharya, the teacher from Bhillamala. He may have been born in this city, or may have taught there. He is known for the composition of two texts on mathematics and astronomy: The Brahmasphutasiddhanta in 628, and the Khandakhadyaka in 665. The Sanskrit poet Magha, the author of Sisupalavadha, lived here in 680 AD. The Jain scholar Siddharshi Gani, a resident of Bhinmal wrote Upmitibahava prapancha katha in 905 AD. The Jain Ramayana was written by Jain monk Vijayagani in 1595 AD. Jain scholar Udyotan Suri wrote kuvalayamala here.

Shrimala

Bhinmala was also called Shrimala, recorded in a thirteenth century text Shramali Purana. The Brahmins and merchants originating from 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 25.0°N 72.25°E / 25.0; 72.25. It has an average elevation of 155.33 metres (479 feet).

Economy

The economy of the town and surrounding area is mainly based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Oilseeds (especially mustard oilseeds) are the predominant crop. Jeera, wheat, bajra, kharif pulses, barley, jowar and seasmum are other produces.

Bhinmal is the main Mandi (market) for agricultural produce of the area. The town has Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti ( Agricultural Produce Market Committee) . Food Corporation of India has its warehouses here. The town is main supply point for various agricultural inputs like fertilisers, seeds and pesticides and for agricultural implements, motors, tractors and spare parts.

Bhinmal is known for fine quality of Mojari (embroided lather shoes) . The small towns nearby bhinmal also had fine workers of Mojari.There are many types of mojari like badagaun, panjabi, tarawali,jariwali, left-right and goal ru jodu are made by the workers called jeenagar.

There are no large- or medium-size industries in the Bhinmal RICO industrial area. The predominant small scale industries are granite slabs and tiles, marble cutting and polishing, mustard seed crushing, skimmed milk powder, butter and ghee, handloom cloth, and leather shoes (mojari).

Transport

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

Bhinmal is on Samadari-Bhildi section of North Western Railway. The name of railway station is Marwar Bhinmal. 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's grid station in Kota District. Almost all villages of the Bhinmal sub division are electrified. City electricity board are 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 RVVNL

Water

The town gets drinking water from nimbawas, and Rajpura. 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. Some well known hotels are: Hotel Samarat,Hotel Gokul Palace,Hotel Gurudev,Hotel Neelkamal,Hotel Rajdeep and Hotel Sagar. The heritage hotel known as Castle Durjan Niwas is at village Daspan 25 km from Bhinmal. There is a Government Rest house too run by 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 National Assessment and Accreditation Council(NAAC).On 23 August 2013 Bhinmal college is upgraded to Post-Graduate by 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 forty-five 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 education department of Rajasthan government as well as private sector. Adrash Vidhya Mandir Sr. Sec. ,Madhav International School English and Hindi medium, Vidya Bhawan, New Sacred Heart English School are good private schools in Bhinmal.

Communication

Medical/Hospital 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 too. And also in government hospital there are good facilities. there are almost 13 Private Hospital in Bhinmal city.

Sports

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

Banking

Four nationalised Banks State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, yes bank, kotak Mahindra bank, Bank of India 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., 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 other one by Saraswati Temple Trust.

Administrative set-up

Demography

As of 2001 India census, Bhinmal had a population of 221546. Rural Population is 184751, urban population is 39280, Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bhinmal has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 67% and female literacy of 36%. 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.

check http://jalore.nic.in/cens.html

Jain Temples

Hindu Temple

Monuments

Distances

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By Road

Bhinmal in News

Read here- The Times of India- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31810&articlexml=WANDERLUST-FESTIVAL-Three-day-travel-film-fest-concludes-04112014004041 Dainik Bhaskar- http://epaper.bhaskar.com/detail/?id=631489&boxid=113045115&ch=0&map=map&currentTab=tabs-1&pagedate=11%2F03%2F2014&editioncode=147&pageno=13&view=image