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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