Jaiswal Jains are one of the Jain

Jainism

Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...

 communities

Jain community

The Jains in India have been the last direct representatives of the Shramana tradition in India. They follow Jainism, as the dharma taught by the 24 Tirthankaras, the last of whom was Mahavira.-Cultural influence:...

 of northern India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. They are mainly located in the Gwalior/Agra

Agra

Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...

 region. The term Jaiswal indicated residents of a place named Jayas or Jais.

Some authors have identified Jais with Jais

Jais

Jais is a city and a municipal board in chatarpati sahu ji maharaj nagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.- Geography :Jais is located at . It has an average elevation of 101 metres .- Demographics :...

 in Raebareli district

Raebareli District

Raebareli District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Raebareli is the district headquarters. The district is part of Lucknow Division.-Raebareli District in 1911:...

. A legend identifies it as Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer

Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...

. However there are ducumented mentions of Jaiswal Jains prior to the settlement of Jaisalmer. The famous Dubkund Jain inscription of 1088 AD is the earliest mention of the Jayas town. The Apabhraṃśa Jain poet Lakshmana composed the Jinadatta Charitra in sam.

Samvat

Samvat is any of the various Hindu calendars. In India, there are several calendars in use:* Vikrama Samvat: lunar months, solar sidereal years* Shaka Samvat : lunar months, solar sidereal years* Shaka Samvat : solar tropical...

 1275 and Anuvaya Rayana Payiiva in sam. 1313, both at Tihuangiri near Bayana

Bayana

Bayana is a historical town in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan in India. It is a historical city founded by Banasur, who was an Asura. He lived during the time of Krishna...

. Thus the place Jayas must have been in the vicinity of Gwalior region.

Prominent Jaiswal Jains

• Poet Bulakhichand, author of Vachankosha in sam. 1707
• Dr. Nemichandra Shastri Jyotishacharya 1922-1974
• Ravindra Jain
  Ravindra Jain
  Ravindra Jain is an Indian music composer and lyricist. He won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award in 1985.-Early life:...
  
  , poet and music director

External links

• Reports By India Archaeological Survey, Archaeological Survey of India, v.20 1882-1883 http://books.google.com/books?id=BwV7pWKvgcUC&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99&dq=dubkund&source=web&ots=kYMhcqecXr&sig=OxjDJI1214tgi-gbiiy2I4X0ZcI#PPA99,M1 page 99