Bhinmal

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Bhinmal(भीनमाल)
type = city | latd = 25.0 | longd = 72.25
locator_position = right | state_name = Rajasthan
district = Jalor
leader_title = MLA(Member of Rajasthan state assy).
leader_name = Samarjeetsingh Rathor
leader_title = Chairman,Nagar Palika,Bhinmal(BMC).
leader_name = Mrs.Vimala Bohra
altitude = 146
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 39,278| population_density =
area_magnitude= km²
area_total =
area_telephone = 912969
postal_code = 343029
vehicle_code_range = RJ-16
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Bhinmal (भीनमाल), also known as Shrimal, is a town in the Jalore District of Rajasthan, India. It is 72 km south of Jalore town. The name Bhinmal is derived from the word Shrimal. Bhinmal was the capital of ancient Gujarat.According to some historical accounts, the kingdom with capital at Bhinmal (or Srimal) was established by the Gujjars. A minor kingdom of Bharuch was the offshoot of this Kingdom.In 640-41 CE, the Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Hieun Tsang) described the kingdoms Kiu-che-lo (identified with Gurjara) in his writings. He stated that the Gurjaras ruled a rich and populous kingdom with capital at Bhinmal (Pilo-mo-lo). According to his expositor, M. Vivien de St. Martin, Su-la-cha represents the modern Gujarat, and Kiu-che-lo (Gurjjara), "the country of the Gujars", represents the region between between Anhilwara and the Indus River.

The town is the birth place of the Sanskrit poet Mahakavi Magh (poet)| and mathematician and astronomer Brahmagupta.

History of Bhinmal

Bhinmal was the capital of ancient Gujarat. The further earlier name of the town was Bhillamala. Hiuen Tsang visited Bhillamala [bhinmal] in about 641 A.D. According to Hiuen Tsang Bhillamala was capital of Gurjara kingdom. The King of the place was a Kshatriya, celebrated for his wisdom and virtue, a believer in Buddhism and a man of exceptional abilities. He was just twenty years old. The people of the place were flourishing. Brahmanism dominated the city. There was only one Buddhist monastery with 100 brothers.

Ala ud din Khilji also destroyed Srimala when he conquered Jalore in 1310 A.D. Before that Srimala was a premier city of northern India. The city was laid out in the shape of a square. It has 84 gates. The mid-15th century chronicle Kanhadade Prabandha provide description of many islamic attacks on Bhinmal.

There were several temples of Jain Tirthankar and Hindu god-Ganapatis, Kshetrapalas, Chandikadevis, Shivalingas and others. The temple of Bhinmal known as Jagatsvami was one of the earliest and most famous temples of Rajasthan. The temple had beautiful torana (archway). The temple was perhaps built during the reign of Gurjara Pratiharas who were sun worshippers. A festival was held at temple in the Hindu calendar month of Asvin.

There were a number of Jain temples too, temple of Mahavira being the most famous. In ancient time this temple was built by king Kumarpal and established by Acharya Hemachandra,dedicated to 1st Jain Tirthankar Lord Rishabhadev, currently this is dedicated to 24th Jain Tirthankar Lord "Bhagwan" Mahavira.

Bhinmal was a great centre of learning. The scholars of Srimala were known far and wide for their scholarship and learning. The well known Sanskrit poet Magha, the author of Sisupalavadha also lived here in 680 A.D.
Brahmagupta was born in 598 A.D. in Bhinmal. He is likely to have lived most of his life in Bhillamala (modern Bhinmal) in the empire of Harsha. As a result Brahmagupta is often referred to as Bhillamalacarya, the teacher from Bhillamala (Bhinmal). He was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain, and during his tenure he wrote two texts on mathematics and astronomy: The Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta in 628, and the Khandakhadyaka in 665. The well known Jain scholar Siddharshi Gani, a resident of Bhinmal wrote "Upmitibahava prapancha katha" in 905 A.D. The Jain Ramayana was written by Jain monk Vijayagani in 1595 A.D.Jain Acharya Udyotan Suri wrote "kuvyalmala" 9the well known sanskrit story book) here.

The city of Bhinmal had four gates. At a distance of 8 kilometers in the north, there was the Jalori gate, in the south Laxmi gate, in the east the Sun gate and in the west Sanchori gate.

Jainism in Bhinmal

This city has witnessed many risings and falls. Stone inscriptions of the year 1333 of the Vikrama Samvat(1277 A.D.) are found among ruins of temples. There are signs here and there showing that Lord MahaviraSwami, the 24th Jain Tirthankar wandered about here. They can provide historical evidences to researches.

There was a time when this city had a circumference of 64 kilometers and the fort had 84 gates. This city looked beautiful with hundreds of pinnacled temples. From the seventh to the tenth century, talented Jain monk/wiritter Acharya Haribhadra, Mundas Gani, Udayprabhsuri and many more created here valuable Jain literature and sanctified and beautified this place. The temple of 23rd jain Tirthankar Parshvanatha in Hathi pole area is regarded to be ancient. This temple has great archeological importance. Golden-colored idol of Shri Parshvanatha "Bhagvan" in "padmasana" posture is the presiding deity.

On the image of the main deity, On the idol, there is an inscription of the year 1011 of the Vikram era [954 A.D.] .It is believed that the idol was found from a hollow of the ground. Many other idols were also found. Eight hundred years ago Bhinmal as the "tirth" is described in the ‘"Sakal Tirth Stotra’" composed by Jain monk Acharya Siddhasen Diwakar surisvarji. The writer of Abhidhan Rajendra Kosh [Dictionary of Prakrit, Sanskrit & Pali language Jain words] & famous Jain monk of 20th century Acharya Rajendrasuri made his chaturmas here in 1880 A.D.

The Shrimal and Porwad Jain communities have originated from Bhinmal and its vicinity.

With emergence of Patan, Gujarat (ancient Anahilavada), a large fraction of the Jain population moved from Bhinmal and Patan emerged as the major Jain center.

Geography

Bhinmal is located at coord|25.0|N|72.25|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/24/Bhinmal.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Bhinmal] ] It has an average elevation of 146 metres (479 feet).

Economy

The economy of the town and surrounding area is mainly based on agriculture and animal husbandary. The oilseeds specially mustard oilseeds is predominant crop. Jeera, wheat, bajra, kharif pulses, barley, jowar and seasmum are other produces.

Bhinmal is main Mandi (market) for agricultural produce of the area. The town has Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti ( Agricultural Produce Market Committee) . Food Corporation of India has its warehouses here. The town is main supply point for various agricultural inputs like fertilisers, seeds and pesticides and for agricultural implements, motors, tractors and spare parts.

Bhinmal is known for fine quality of Mojari- (embroided lather shoes) .

There is no large and medium size industry in the Bhinmal industrial area.The main small scale industries are: granite slabs and tiles, marble cutting and polishing, mustard seed crushing, skimmed milk powder, butter and ghee, handloom cloth, leather shoes( mojari}.uiyiuyiyu

Infrastructure

Transport

Bhinmal is on Samadari-Bhildi section of North Western Railway. The name of railway station is Marwar Bhinmal. The railway tracks are meter gauge. There are plans to convert these to broad gauge. Bhinmal is connected to all major cities by all weather roads.

Electricity

There is one sub grid station of 220 KV at Bhinmal. The town receives power from Power Grid Corporation of India's grid station in Kota District. Almost all villages of the Bhinmal sub division are electrified. The Power Grid Corporation of India has plans to construct one more 400 KV power substation at Bhinmal to supply electricity to whole Marwar area.

Water

The town gets drinking water from Savidar, Dhanwara & Rajpura. The town area drinking water supply is managed by PHED (water dept.of Govt. of Rajasthan). The main source of irrigation for farmers continues to be wells.

Accommodation

There are many hotels in the town. Some well known hotels are: Hotel Samarat, Hotel Neelkamal, Hotel Rajdeep, Hotel Surya-kiran and Hotel Sagar. The heritage hotel known as Castle Durjan Niwas is at village Daspan 25 km from Bhinmal. There is a Government Rest house too run by Public Works Department(PWD).

Education

The town has a graduate/degree College called G K Gowani Government College affiliated to Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer and accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council(NAAC). There are three higher secondary and about forty five primary and middle schools in Bhinmal.

Telecommunications

All the basic phone and cellphone service provider companies have their network in Bhinmal. Internet and fax services is available at main Tel.exchange building of BSNL.

Hospitals

Bhinmal town has good medical facilities. The town has a government referral hospital and many private hospitals. There is an Aryuvedic hospital too.

ports

The town has a stadium by name of Shivaraj Stadium. It was inaugurated by staging Ranji trophy match in December 1985 between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It has indoor & outdoor games facilities. The yearly state level badminton tournament held here.

Banking

Two nationalised Banks State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur and Punjab National Bank have their brances here. Some co-operative and local banks also have their branches in the town. They are: Jalore Nagrik Sahakari Bank ltd., Madhav Nagrik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Marwar Gramin Bank, Jalore Central Cooperative Bank and Bhumi Vikas Bank.

Library

The town has two public libraries one is managed by the municipality and other one by Saraswati Temple Trust.

Administrative set-up

* The town is one of two sub -divisions in Jalore district.
* The Bhinmal sub division covers three tehsils namely Bhinmal, Sanchore and Raniwara and four panchayat{block} samitis namely Bhinmal,Sanchore , Raniwara and Jaswantpura.
* The civic affairs are administered by the Bhinmal Municipal Council (BMC) (Nagarpalika Mandal Bhinmal), with executive power vested in the Municipal excutive officer.The Council comprises 25 directly elected councillors representing the twenty five municipal wards.Three nominated Councillors and a local MLA also have a rights of councillor.
* The Bhinmal sub-division area is under the jurisdiction of a Deputy District Collector/Sub divisionl Officer(SDO)
* Bhinmal Tehsildar is in charge of property records and revenue collection of Bhinmal tehsil
* The Bhinmal Police is headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police who is an IPS officer.
* Bhinmal also has a Lower court, the Small Causes Court for civil matters and the Sessions Court for criminal cases.
* Bhinmal constituency elects one member to the Vidhan Sabha( Rajasthan State Assembly) [http://www.eci.gov.in/election-analysis/AE/S20/partycomp172.htm]

Demography

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Bhinmal had a population of 39,278. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bhinmal has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 67% and female literacy of 36%. 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The Bafna,Nagar Brahmins,Vardhan,Seth,Jogani,Nahar,Mehta,Gowani,Raysoni,Sanghvi, Vanigota, kavedimehtaShrimali Brahmins,Bohra,Dhokad, Hundiya, Palgota,Kothari, Haran/Hiran,shah,Chouhan,Bhimani,etc are the some of the surnames of the people from the town. Bhinmal is an important town in the history of oswal Jain community.

Many people from Bhinmal are now settled in Mumbai and are engaged in trade, construction, import-export, stock market and other businesses like trade in gold, diamond, readymade garments, industrial components, computer peripherals, Auto parts, finance,etc. Some well known business houese are Vardhan group, Nahar group, Bafna business houses,Jogani constructions, Govani group, Veetarga Developers, and Nahar & Seth group. Some people from Bhinmal presently reside in Bangalore,Chitradurga Ahmedabad, hyderabad, chennai, mangalore, delhi & all around india. They keep regular contact with Bhinmal through social and religious functions.

Temples in Bhinmal

Jain Temples

*Mahavira Swami Jain temple
*Parshvanatha Jain temple [Hathi pole]
*Shantinath Jain temple [Ganesh chowk]
*Ganthi Mehata vaas [4 Jain temple complex]
*NakodaParshvanatha Jain temple
*Riddhi-Siddhi Parshvanatha Jain Temple
*Chomukhji Jain temple [viju bai Temple]
*Manmohan Parshvanatha Jain temple'
*Jagawallabh Parshvanatha Jain temple [station road]
*Padmaprabhu Jain temple [magh colony]
*Jeerawalla Parshvanatha Jain temple [magh colony]
*Seemandhar swami Jain temple [Rath Mandir]
*ShankheshwarParshvanatha Jain temple complex.
*Gaudi Parshvanatha Jain temple.
*Kirti Stambh Jain Temple [Tower Temple] .
*Bafna Wadi Jain Tirth (Lord MahaviraSwami Temple [Three Temple complex] .
*Shankheshwar Parshvanatha Temple,Dhora-Dhal.
*Kunthunathji Jain Temple,Hundia vas.

Hindu Temples

*Varaha Shyam temple
*Chandinath temple
*Neel Kantha Mahadev temple
*Kshemekari mata(Mataji ki Bhakri temple)
*Mahalaxmi temple,Mahalaxmi road
*Mahalaxmi temple,Dhora-dhal
*Gayatri temple
*Fafariya Hanuman temple
*Baba Ramdevji temple
*Vishwakarma temple
*Saraswati temple
*Lord Shanidev Temple,Near Old Police Station.

Monuments

*Chandinath Bavadi
*Jeevdaya Gaushala
*Jakoba Talab
*Bal samundra pond
*Trayamkeshwer pond

Distances

Nearest Airports:
*Jodhpur 200 km; Udaipur 230 km.;Ahmedabad: 240 km

Nearest airstrips:
*Noon Jalore; Sirohi; Abu Road; Deesa.

By Road
*Jodhpur :200 km; Jalore:72 km; Sirohi:73 km; Mount Abu:170 km; Palanpur:120 km
*Ranakpur:140 km; Jaisalmer:335 km; Ahmedabad: 315 km; Abu Road:125 km;
*Karda:22 km; MALWARA : 27

Bhinmal in News

*A 450 years old Jain temple was unearthed in year 2002 during construction work at the premises of Shri Parshwa Nath temple at Bhinmal. The temple has five images of Jain Tirthankars made in white marble.

*In September 1997, Naina Jogani, a Jain woman, was allegedly harassed by a Jain muni in Bhinmal. The muni later committed suicide. A judicial inquary later found the Jain muni innocent.

*Recently Bafna families of the Bhinmal town has built one temple complex of goddess Osiya Mata (Sachiya Mata Temple), 24th Jain Tirthankar Lord Mahavira Swami and Jain monk Acharya Rajendrasuri. The temple complex is named as Bafna Wadi Jain Tirth and its situated in the south west of the Bhinmal town.All the temple were built on a small hill top.This is a three temples complex with vast ground, Dharmashala, Bhojanshala. It was declared open to public on 2 March 2006 after Paratistha Mahotsava by Jain monk Muni Jayanandvijay ji maharaj.

See also

*Jalore district
*Jalor
*Sundha Mata temple
*Oswal
*Porwad
*Shrimal Jain
*Bafna

External links

*http://www.bafnawadi.com/Bhinmal.htm
*http://www.sundhamata.org
*http://www.sundhamata.com
*http://125.16.139.21/shrimali/index.htm

References

1.Campbell, James MacNabb; Reginald Edward Enthoven (1901). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Govt. Central Press, 2. ISBN 8120606515.

2.Malabari, Behramji Merwanji; Krishnalal M. Jhaveri (1998). Gujarat and the Gujaratis: Pictures of Men and Manners Taken from Life. Asian Educational Services, 2. ISBN 8120606515.