Jain Journal 1986 04

SR No.: 520082
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 75
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 5 MB

Page 25

Of all ancient Jain sites in West Bengal, Pakbirra, in the Purulia District, seems to have been the most prolific in shrines and images. Pakbirra (lat. 23°10' N.; long. 86°41′ E) is a fair sized village1 situated about 56 kilometres south-east of Purulia town under the Puncha Police Station and in close proximity to the Western border of the Bankura District. The village can be approached among other alternative routes* along Purulia-Huda metal road to Bankura mod and there from towards Puncha again by motorable road. A sinuous kutcha path which divaricates from the metal road only 1.5 kilometre west of Puncha town leads to the village Pakbirra and its site.
The earliest description of the site is provided by Lieut. R. C. Bevan, who in a letter dated 11th March, 1865, addressed to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, passingly reported the antiquarian remains of Pakbirra. Lieut. Bevan found the remains of several temples, three of which were then standing, albiet in a very dilapidated condition. Two of these were constructed of stone, and one of brick, all three of about 25 feet in height. From the fallen heaps of stones on all sides, some of which bore "the trace of the carver", he presumed that "formerly, some eight or ten buildings in all must have been erected on the spot". In a small shed close to the temples he noticed a colossal naked male figure, of which he gave a fairly detailed description, and four other "separate figures of apparantly the same person, only much smaller". He also found "the model of a small temple" having a standing figure in each side, and "a few other fragments of stone figures scattered about, chiefly of small size".
J. D. Beglar, Assistant, Archaeological Survey, visited Pakbirra in 1873 and he has left us a graphic account of the site. His report* is quoted here in extenso in view of the fact that, apart from being one of the earliest, the description is the fullest of all existing ones :
"Twenty miles north-east of Bara Bazar, and a mile east of Poncha is the small village of Pakbirra; here are numerous temples and sculp
1 The village Pakbirra (J. L. No. 605, New-62) covers an area of 745.80 acres and has a population of 1,142 according to 1961 and 1971 census. Cf., Census of India, West Bengal, Administrative Atlas, Series 22, Part IX-A, Delhi, 1972, p. 35 under Purulia District; Census 1961: West Bengal ; District Census Handbook, Purulia, Calcutta, n. d., pp. 386-387. The village is comprised of the following six padasRaidih, Purandih, Thakurthan, Mudipada, Goradih, and Mahatopada.
* For alternative routes see Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay, "Pakbirra-A Lost Jaina Centre of Purulia", Jain Journal, Vol. XII, No. 1, Calcutta, July, 1977, p. 27. * Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. IV, Calcutta, April 1965, pp. 66-69. J. D. Beglar, Report of a Tour through Bengal Provinces in 1872-73, Archaeological Survey of India, Vol VIII, Varanasi, 1966 (reprint), pp. 193-195.