Answer

The Shrimali Jain community is traditionally traced to Srimala, the ancient name of Bhinmal in Rajasthan. In Jain social tradition, the community is said to have formed when merchant families of Srimala accepted Jainism, and from that place-name they came to be known as Shrimali. ( jainqq.org)

Explanation

There is no single universally fixed date for the origin, because different traditional accounts exist. One account says Acharya Svayamprabha Suri converted many families at Srimala about 400 years before Vikrama era. Another tradition says Acharya Udayprabh Suri later converted 62 merchant families at Bhinmal, and from these converts the Shrimali gotra/community developed. Some traditions also connect the wider Srimala tradition with later Jain sub-groups and lineages. ( jainqq.org)

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain tradition, the importance of the Shrimali community is not only social or geographic, but spiritual: it reflects the acceptance of Jain dharma, ahimsa, and disciplined living by a merchant community in an ancient Jain center. So the name “Shrimali” carries both a place-based identity and a Jain religious heritage. ( jainqq.org)

Takeaway

In simple words: Shrimali Jains are traditionally linked to Bhinmal/Srimala in Rajasthan, and their community identity grew through Jain conversion traditions over time. ( jainqq.org)