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APRIL, 1983
143
A Jaina Tirthankara image of black stone was found in the Sagar Island and was kept in the kācārī of the Zamindar, Pulinbihari Dutt of Calcutta.16 At Kantabenia, a large image of Parsvanatha is worshipped in a temple with Bisalaksi. The image is superb.17 Prankrishna Biswas of Khardah collected a number of images including a small Jaina figure.18
The discovery of the above-mentioned images show that the Digambara sect was the most powerful among the Jainas of 24-Parganas. All the images found are the standing figures, and no seated image of the Tirthankaras has been found in the district. With the exception of the image from Candraketugarh, all the images belong to the tenth/eleventh century.
16 Ibid., pp. 14-15 17 Pancapuspa, Asad, B.S. 1339, p. 136. 18 Temples and Legends of Bengal, P. C. Ray Chowdhury, p. 69.
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