Jaiswal Jain

Jaiswal Jains are one of the Jain communities of northern India. They are mainly located in the Gwalior/Agra region. The term Jaiswal indicated residents of a place named Jayas or Jais.

Some authors have identified Jais with Jais in Raebareli district. A legend identifies it as Jaisalmer. However, there are ducumented mentions of Jaiswal Jains prior to the settlement of Jaisalmer. The famous Dubkund Jain inscription of 1088 AD is the earliest mention of the Jayas town. The Apabhraṃśa Jain poet Lakshmana composed the Jinadatta Charitra in sam. 1275 and Anuvaya Rayana Payiiva in sam. 1313, both at Tihuangiri near Bayana. Thus the place Jayas must have been in the vicinity of Gwalior region.