नसिंह सिद्धराज का विरूपाक्ष मन्दिर (चिलपांक) का अभिलेख, संवत् ११६८

Summary

This Hindi paper presents an epigraphic study of a little‑known inscription from the Vishālākṣa mandir attributed to the Chālukya ruler Siddharāja (Jayasiṃha). The inscription, dated in the Vikrama Saṃvat 1218, was found carved on a stone slab that accompanied a carved depiction of the temple itself. By transcribing and translating the text, the author reconstructs the way the temple was conceived as a monumental act of religious and political prestige. The preamble invokes Jaina cosmology and records royal patrons, identifying the temple with a Śvetāmbara sect and linking Siddharāja to a lineage of donors. Much of the discussion is devoted to explaining the language and script of the inscription, which mixes Nagari and early Gujarati characters. The author identifies orthographic features that shed light on the evolution of medieval Gujarati and compares them with other twelfth‑century inscriptions. Beyond paleography, the paper situates the temple in the broader context of Solanki architecture. It recounts that Siddharāja’s rule saw a surge in Jaina temple construction, with wealthy ministers and merchants endowing lavish structures at Patan and other sites. The Vishālākṣa temple is described as one of the more ornate sanctuaries, with sculpted pillars, elaborately carved ceilings and an array of ancillary shrines. The inscription catalogues donations made for the maintenance of monks, daily worship, lamps and feeding of guests, revealing the economic infrastructure that supported a major religious centre. It also records land grants and references neighbouring villages, helping historians map the royal domain. When compared with contemporary copper‑plate charters and temple epigraphy, the text illustrates how royal authority and merchant patronage converged to legitimize Jaina institutions. The author notes that the inscription uses honorific titles for Siddharāja which mirror those in later literary works, further demonstrating the convergence of history and legend. In sum, the article provides a careful transliteration and contextual analysis of a twelfth‑century inscription, contributing to the corpus of Gujarati epigraphy and deepening our understanding of Solanki‑era temple patronage.