Arhat Parshva and Dharnendra Nexus

SR No.: 002108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 204
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English, Articles, History, Art, E000, & E001
File Size: 8 MB

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Arhat Pārsva and Dharanendra Nexus
It is thus evident that Nirgrantha was a popular religion in Bengal from a very early period. The discovery of the vestiges of the Nirgrantha establishments and divinities in different parts of Bengal, therefore, is not surprising. However, the abundance of such antiquities in the Chotā Nāgpur-plateau region of the three neighbouring districts of Midnapore, Bankura, and Purulia is significant. Deserted temples and mounds caused by ruined temples and scattered images in their vicinity and also at other places bear ample testimony to the fact that Nirgrantha creed or Jainism once became the religion of the masses and continued to be so for a long time in these three south-western districts of West Bengal. This is further evident from the place names of undoubted Jaina inspiration. Reference in this connection may be made to Pārsvanātha which is the appellation of a village on the river Kansai in the Bankura District, indicative as it is of the eminence of Pārsvanātha in this locality. The immense popularity of the 23rd Tirthankara is also suggested by the large number of his images found in Bengal. Obviously, these images were enshrined exclusively and, in certain instances, together with images of other Jinas and attendant divinities in temples. All these temples are either deserted or are in ruins. The remains of a temple, which definitely housed an image of Pārsvanātha, has been traced at Pāresnāth.14 Built in red sandstone, it was a structure of dry masonry. Iron dowels and cramps were used to keep the masonry blocks of the structure together. The foundation of another temple of Pārsvanātha was discovered at Kendua in the Bankurā District. Once a building of ashlar masonry, it consisted of a deula (prāsāda) and a mukhaśālā (mandapa). The deula was built on a triratha (dvi-anga) plan and oriented toward east. Another recognisable element of the structure is the khurā (khura) moulding in its pābhāga (kați). Pārsvanātha may once have been the presiding deity also of the two deserted temples, one at Harmaśra and the second at Deulbhirā, in the Bankurā District. Not far away from the temple at Harmaśrā, a partially damaged image of Pārsvanātha is lying. His image (Plate 40), discovered near the temple at Deulbhirā, was shifted to the Indian Museum, Calcutta. Both temples are of the rekhā (Latina) order and made of laterite. At Harmaśrā, the temple had a mukbaśālā (mukhamandapa) which has disappeared long since. Pañcaratha (tri-anga) on plan, bereft of any decorative embellishments and facing east, these two temples seem to belong to a period not earlier than the 12th century.
While it is difficult to locate or identify the buildings which enshrined Pārsvanātha, his images are encountered at many sites of Bengal. So far, such images have been discovered at Kantaberia, 16 Raidighi'? and Dakşiņa Barasāt18 in the South 24-Parganas District, Beharasai (Plates 41 and 42) Rajjpara, 19 and Ayodhyābād, Nepura Bandhar and Dumurtod20 in the Midnāpore District, Bahulārā (Plate 43), Kenduā, Pāresnāth,