Bafna

Bafna also spelt Bafana (Hindi:बाफना)is an Indian Jain community, and also the surname used by this community. The name is derived from Bahufana and Bafanha.

History of Bafna

After seventy years of Nirvana of 24th Jain Tirthankar Mahavir, in 40 A.D.(Vira Nirvana Samvat-70), the Paramara sect of North Indian king Prithvipal's heir, King Jobanpal and Prince Sachchipal with the help of Harsha (Harshvardhan), the king of Kannauj (North India) invaded Jalore District (Rajasthan), despite their repeated attempts to conquer Jalore, there was no result.

The Khartatgachchhiya Jain Acharya Shri Jinvallabhsuriji who was believed to possess some super natural powers, came there, the king and the prince visited the Acharya Shri and begged for the blessing of Victory.
Acharya told him to reminiscence the "Bahufana Parshvanath Shatrunjay Maha mantra" at the intervals of 12000.

Both the Kshatriya clan recited the 'Mantra' to gain victory, with every 12000 recitation of the mantra, the battle horses got 12000 times more power which eventually led them to victory.

When King Jobanpal and Prince Sachchipal were on their way towards Dhar (Madhya Pradesh- India) they got a flash of images of the Acharya, it came to their knowledge that jain Acharya Jinvallabhsuriji was no more and Shri Jinduttsuriji was appointed as the new Jain Acharya (senior Jain monk).

Both of them immediately went to the newly appointed Acharya Jinduttsuri and converted to Jainism. They declared their clan's name as "Bahufana" (now more commonly known as "Bafna").

ub-Sect of Bafna Clan

There were total 37 sons in the family of King Jobanpal and Sachchipal.

One of them was known as "Bafna" and other 36 got their new surnames as per their work and quality, on the eve of establishment of Oswal sect by Jain Acharya Ratnaprabhsuriji.

New names of 36 son are as follows- 1.Nahta, 2.Rayjada, 3.Patva, 4.Hundiya, 5.Marothiya, 6.Samuliya, 7.Bathiyan, 8.Jangda, 9.Somaliya, 10.Dungrecha, 11.Kotecha, 12.Bagmar, 13.Kuchera, 14.Bhabu, 15.Baliya, 16.Nahusuri, 17.Dhampal, 18.Nangani, 19.Bhungarwal, 20.Betala, 21.Mahajaniya 22.Basah, 23.Dhaturiya, 24.Maru, 25.Bhoota, 26.Khorwal, 27.Makelwal, 28.Sahala, 29.Thoola, 30.Dasora, 31.Kalrohi, 32.Khorua, 33.Soni, 34.Joshaliya, 35.Sambhoota and 36.Jhota etc.It is, thus proved that all the above sects are the part of the Bafna clan and their "Kuldevi"(goddess of Clan) is Sachiya Mata ji, so all the above sects have same faith as that of Bafna, in Sachiya Mata Temple of Osian ."'

Bafnas of Bhinmal

The Bafna clan came to town Bhinmal Rajasthan in 1401 A.D.(1457 Vikram Samvat) from Tavari village near Ossian town Rajasthan(India). Bhinmal is the birth and native place of well-known Sanskrit poet Mahakavi Magh and mathematician-astronomer Brahmagupta (ब्रह्मगुप्त)"'.

The land of Bhinmal got purity after visit of Jain Tirthankar lord Mahavira. The historical attachment of the land of Bhinmal with Shri Jain AcharyaGnanvimalsuri, Acharya Haribhadrasuri, Shri Manudasgani, Jain Acharya Udyotansuri, Acharya Siddharshigani, Pujya Gurudev Acharya Shrimad Rajendrasuri, For this the stability of Jainism is in this city.

The Bafna clan came in 13th Vikram Century in this historical and Jain Religious City Bhinmal.

First person Shri Tolaji Bafna, his son Shri Dayaji and His son's grandson Shri Malaji Bafna came first time in Bhinmal from Tawari village (Osiya- Jodhpur-Rajasthan). Their family settled in the area was known as Malaji ka Chohta which was known as "Malniyon ka chohta now-a-days. Businessmen and Jain community's Holi Gair dance was started by malaji Bafna. There were four families of Malaji, the first was sangvanji's family which went to Dhanera and settled nearly there, second was Nimbaji's family which is Hinduji's family now-a-days, third wad khelaji's family which is Deepani family and the fourth was Lakhmaji's family which sagarji's family and Suraji's family today. All the there families except first, are in Bhinmal at present.

There after, Rekhaji Bafna and Jodaji Heeraji - Raghunathji Bafna's family came to Bhinmal from Nagaur District of Rajasthan. Out of them, Rekhaji's family settled near by Chhoti School (Small-School) - vegetable Market area which is known as Rupaniyon ka Mohalla and Todaji's family settled in the area of Dhora-dhal. There were two family constituted from this family which are Manroopji's family and Kasroorji - Pratapji - Chnotmalji's family and which are now exist.

As contemporaries of these, the family of Heemaji Bafna came Bhinmal from Rajikawas and settled in Dhora-dhal region which is veermaji's family now. All these Bafna families have been residing in Bhinmal for 500-600 years.There after Ukhchandji Peraji's family came Bhinmal from panthedi, which is part of Malaji's family of Deepani's family in origin there ancestor Shri Dhashrathji went to panthedi.Their Sons Umedmalji, Walchandji, Hirachandji & Kishormalji settled in the area of Khari Road also known as Haddiyon Ki Wa.

The Bafnas of Bhinmal have established Bafna Research centre & cultural society (Bhinmal). This society has made one three-temple complex for their worship, at Bhinmal, Rajasthan. The temple complex is named "Shri Bafna Wadi Jain Tirth".

References

*http://www.bafnawadi.com http://www.bafnawadi.org
*http://www.arthistory.upenn.edu/meister/acsaa.html
*Paper presented at the ACSAA Symposium, Charleston SC, November 1998 by Michael W. Meister