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

1920-30s: wealth flows into Patan from overseas trade 

1930's: Granth Bhandaras consolidated into Hemachandra Jnan mandir

1971: Jains are 5.66% of Patan's population

1970s: Two new dharmashalas built

1980: Bhogilal Laharchand Institute of Indology started at Patan 

1987-: Rebuilding of Shamalji Parshvanath temple

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