Saitwal

Saitwal (or Swahitwal) is a Digambara Jain community of Maharashtra. Swahitwal means that they work for the benefit of their inner self (Swa+hit+wal).

Saitwal community is largely concentrated in Maharashtra state, though people from Saitwal community can be found in all over India.

History

Several Jain authors were born in this community. This includes Pasakirti (Sudarshana Charitra, shaka 1549), Brahma Matisagar (Adinath panchkalyanaka, shaka 1732), Nemsagar (shaka 1675-1776) etc.^[1]

A bronze image of Chandraprabha has been discussed by J. C. Wright that has an inscription mentioning that it was installed by a person of Sehitavāla jati in Śaka Year 1559 (A.D. 1638) under the supervision of Bhattaraka Vijayakīrti.^[2]

Religious organizations

Main article: Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha

The Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha is a religious and social service organization of the Jains of South India. The organization is headquartered at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.^[3] The association is credited with being one of the first Jain associations to start reform movements among the Jains in modern India.^[4][5] The organization mainly seeks to represent the interests of the native Jains of Maharashtra (Marathi Jains), Karnataka (Kannada Jains) and Goa.

See also

• Acharya Aryanandi
• Jainism in Maharashtra
• Jainism in Karnataka

References

1. Svahitavala Sandesh, Dec. 2011, p. 3-4
2. Two Inscribed Digambara Bronzes, J C Wright, CoJS Newsletter, March 2014, Issue 9, pp. 34-35
3. Bhanu, B. V. (2004). People of India: Maharashtra - Kumar Suresh Singh - Google Books. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 9788179911006. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
4. Carrithers, Michael; Humphrey, Caroline, eds. (4 April 1991). The Assembly of Listeners: Jains in Society. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521365055. Retrieved 30 January 2013 – via Google Books.
5. Markham, Ian S.; Sapp, Christy Lohr (26 May 2009). A World Religions Reader - Google Books. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781405171090. Retrieved 30 January 2013.