પોરબંદરની વાસુપૂજ્યજિનની વાઘેલાકાલીન પ્રતિમા અને તેનો અભિલેખ
By Madhusudan Dhanki, Manibhai Vora, Tribhovandas Oghavji Shah
Summary
This article describes the discovery and analysis of a medieval Jain idol of Tīrthaṅkara Vasupūjya found in Porbandar. Madhusudan Gandhi and his colleagues detail the iconography: the metal idol depicts the Tīrthaṅkara in a standing meditation posture with a halo and attendant deities, and its workmanship suggests a late‑medieval date. The pedestal bears an inscription written in old Gujarati script. The authors transliterate and translate the text, which records that the image was installed by local devotees under the supervision of Jain monks. The inscription lists donors’ names and gives a date in the Vikram Samvat era, allowing the idol to be dated to the early eighteenth century CE. By comparing the inscription to other Jain epigraphs from Kathiawar, the authors show that the language and formulas match regional practice. The article situates the find within the broader corpus of Jain art; images of Vasupūjya are relatively rare in Gujarat, so this discovery adds to the known examples. Photographs illustrate the idol and the inscription in detail. The authors also discuss the cultural and religious significance of Vasupūjya worship in coastal Gujarat and review secondary sources. Overall, the essay provides a meticulous description of the artifact, contextualises its inscription and underlines its value for understanding regional Jain iconography and epigraphy.
Conclusion
Gandhi and his co‑authors conclude that the Porbandar Vasupūjya idol and its inscription shed light on Jain devotional life in coastal Gujarat. The epigraph confirms the patronage of merchant families and monks, while stylistic analysis dates the sculpture to the late‑medieval or early‑modern period. By documenting the artifact and comparing it with other inscriptions, the article enriches the corpus of Jain art and offers a useful reference for future studies.