Bapna also spelt Bafana or Bapna or Bafna (Hindi: बाफना / बाफणा )is an Indian Jain community, and also the surname used by this community. The name is derived from Bahufana and Bafanha. They were Rajput and embraced Jainism. Bafnas are also known as Bapnas, Baphana.
History
After seventy years of nirvana of 24th Tirthankara Mahavira, in 457 B.C.(Vira Nirvana Samvat-70), the Paramara sect of North Indian King Prithvipal's heir, King Jobanpal and Prince Sachchipal Acharya told him to reminiscence the Bahufana Parshvanath Shatrunjay Maha Mantra at the intervals of 12,000.
Both the Kshatriya clan recited the 'Mantra' to gain victory, with every 12,000 recitations of the mantra, the battle horses got 12,000 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. They declared their clan's name as "Bahufana" (now more commonly known as "Bafna").
Sub-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 Amba [ Form of Durga] so all the above sects have same faith as that of Bafna, in Sachiya Mata Temple of Osian.
Baphanas of Kosana, Now at Nashik
In 1009, Gaon: Khajwaan our ancestral one 'Saati' We were in Kosaana in 1799. We were in Maharashtra, khandala near aurangabad in 1890. Then we came to Niphad in 1894. Then we shift to Umbarkhed in 1899(where Hiralaljiis Mashiji lived there & her 5 sons drowned in Kadwa River). In 1931, Lakhichandjis mother died. On 3 March 1972 Hilralalji died. On 22 February 1995 Gajarabai died. On 6 January 2015 Lakhichandji died.
Family Tree
Maharaja Upaldev Pawar
Maharaja Baldev (left Shivdharma & follow Jainism in 1175 - Vikram samvad) also named as 'Baphana' Narayandasji Devdasji Simratsinghji Indrabhanji Raibhanji Khivsinghji Bhagchandji (1708) Davarji (1804) Sujoji Maanji Mulchandji Khivrajji - Chotalalji Hiralalji - Nainsukhji - Chunilalji Lakhichandji (dob 26-1-1924 Death 6-1-2015)-Chhaganlalji(dob 06-09-1936 Death 5-10-2009) Kantilalji (dob 3-8-1948)
Bafnas of Bhinmal
The Bafna clan came to town Bhinmal Rajasthan in 1401 A.D. (1457 Vikram Samvat) from Tavari village near Osian town Rajasthan, India. Bhinmal is the birth and native place of well-known Sanskrit poet Mahakavi Magha 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 Acharya Gnanvimalsuri, Acharya Haribhadrasuri, Shri Manudasgani, Jain Acharya Udyotansuri, Acharya Siddharshigani, Pujya Gurudev, Acharya Shrimad Rajendrasuri.
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" nowadays. 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 nowadays, third was Khelaji's family which is Deepani family and the fourth was Lakhmaji's family which Sagarji's family and Suraji's family today. All of their families except first, are in Bhinmal at present. The original house of Malaji is today owned by Dharamchandji Bafna and their sons, one of whom is a senior vice president at Goldman Sachs.