Jain Journal 2010 07

SR No.: 520279
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 60
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 7 MB

Page 31

Rupendra Kumar Chattopadhyay: Jaina Antiquities
Navachiada, Barkola, Sarengarh, Kechanda and Chitgiri are other important sites in this valley that have yielded Jaina remains. Some of these sites and their Jaina antecedence have been studied earlier by Debala Mitra?
During the 1950's, the Kansavati valley was extensively explored by Debala Mitra. Her primary intention was to probe and explore the historical archaeology of this region. During her frequent visits she came across some interesting Jaina sculptures and these were documented mainly due to two reasons. Firstly, the presence of numerous Jaina sculptural remains made her realize that she had come across a major Jaina stronghold which should be studied for the sake of Jainism in eastern India and also for the reconstruction of the settlement history of a lesser known region. Further, she realized that this entire Jaina antiquarian remains and heritage will be submerged once the Kansavati Dam Project at Mukutmanipur is completed. While studying the Jaina icons found in the Kansavati Dam Project site, she recommended that the intact icons be transported for safety and preservation. It is necessary to mention here that Mitra's documentation of icons and other explored materials have a bearing on the objective of the present paper, at least in the context of the study of sculptural remains retrieved from the region. The archaeological potentiality of the Kumari-Kansavati valley as a part of the fringe areas of the Chhotanagpur Plateau was jointly investigated by Dilip K. Chakrabarti and the first author on behalf of the Archaeological and Museum Unit, Department of History, Delhi University. Later, the first author undertook an indepth study of the valley during the tenure of his doctoral research”. Thus, the vast
2. Mitra, D., 'Some Jaina Antiquities From Bankura, West Bengal', Journal of
the Asiatic Society Bengal-Letters, vol. XXIV, no. 2, 1958, pp. 130-134.
Ibid. 4. Chakrabarti, Dilip K., Archaeology of Eastern India: Chhotanagpur Plateau
and West Bengal, New Delhi. 1993, pp. 152-158. 5. Chattopadhyay, R.K., op. cit. 2010.