Bagherwal is a digambar
Jain community originally from Baghera, a princely state in
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
. The town is situated in
Ajmer district
Ajmer district is a district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is part of the Ajmer division–one of the seven List of districts of Rajasthan#Divisions, administrative divisions of Rajasthan. The city of Ajmer is the district headquarters. ...
of Rajasthan near
Kekri.
History
Stone inscriptions from the eleventh century A.D. refer to this community as located in
Chittorgarh,
Ranthambore and
Mandalgarh at various times. During the foreign aggression of North India in the twelfth century, the community left these forts and spread to villages and towns of Rajputana and Madhya Pradesh. About six hundred years ago, three hundred families migrated to Maharashtra from Chittor under the leadership of Jijaji and Punaji Khatod. This group settled in Maharashtra.
All community members are followers of the Jain religion (Digambar). The community has built Jain temples in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra.
Kirti Stambh, built by one of the community members, Jijaji Kathod, at Chittor fort is a historical monument. It is a seven-story structure built in the twelfth century AD.
Different clans have followed different monastic lineages, Mula Sangh Balatkara Gana, Mula Sangh Sena Gana and Kashtha Sangha. Their center in
Karanja Lad had thus seats of three bhattarakas of each of the three traditions.
Pandit
Ashadhar, a scholar of
Jain philosophy
Jain philosophy or Jaina philosophy refers to the Ancient India, ancient Indian Indian philosophy, philosophical system of the Jainism, Jain religion. It comprises all the Philosophy, philosophical investigations and systems of inquiry that dev ...
in the 13th century, writer of about 100 manuscripts in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
, was born in this community.
[Mahapandit Ashadhar, Anupachand Nyayatirtha, Anekanta, Vol. 17, June 1964, p. 67-68]
Publications
Community publications
Bagherwal Web Site*Bagherwal Sandesh (Monthly news magazine)
*Bagherwal Samaj Sandesh (Monthly news magazine)
*Pratibimb ( quarterly magazine )
Books published about community
* Bagherwal Jati Ithias by
Vidyadhar Johrapurkar
* Pandit Ashadhar. Vyaktitva and Kratitava by Nemi Chand Dongaonkar
References
{{Social groups of Maharashtra
Jain communities
Social groups of Maharashtra