Bharatiya Sanskriti Ke Vikas Me Jain Vangamay Ka Avdan Part 02

Author(s): Nemichandra Shastri, Rajaram Jain, Devendrakumar Shastri
Publisher: Prachya Shraman Bharati

Page 255

JAIN CULTURE IN SHAHABAD
It would be no exaggeration to say that the district of Shahabad in Bihar is the land of physical prowess as well as of religious grandeur. Apart to other religions its contribution to Jainism is singularly profound and comprehensive. In this respect, Shahabad really makes a mark in Bihar. It has the proud privilege of inhabiting about one and half thousand Jains under its area which constitutes the modern district of Shahabad. Jains reside here in the towns of Arrah and Dalmianagar as the main centre. Historically speaking Jainism exists in this district from the 6th century A.D. About twenty images of Jain Nemi Nath, Rishabha Nath and others, the fabulous tree Kalpbriksha (a tree granting everything desired) the religion incarnate Dharmachakra excavated from Chousa, in Buxar subdivision, unmistakably vouchsafe the truth of the above statement. Archeo logists have fixed the period of these images, to be from the 6th century A.D. to the 9th century A.D. The finding of Dharmachakra, originated by Rishabha Nath, is the symbol of the spread of Jainism in Shahabad dist. before the 6th century A.D., as it is undispụted that Dharmachakra has been excavated only from those places where Jainism had once its stronghold. All these relics excavated from Chousa have been kept safely in the Patna Museum. The sight of these in the museum vividly recalls the religious fervour, skill and artistic genius of that age. However the present existence of Jains in Shahabad is not traceable to earlier than four hundred years ago. The history of middle period is uncertain and is not available. Jains clerrly come into picture from here year 1554. There are various images of year 1554 in the Chandra Prabhu Chaityalaya, built by Babu Chunni Lal. It is clear from the •Murtilekha' of 'Mul Nayak Pratima of Chandra Prabhu' that it was built in Aram Nagar, in 'Sambat 1562 'Baishakha sudi astami'. The front portions of the image have faded and are not easily read. In the same temple there ss a little image of Chandra Prabhu bearing the date of its installation as Baishakha sudi tija 1533, established by Jivaraj Papariwal. It seems, it is one of the one lakh images installed by Jivaraj Papariwal in the different parts of India. There is also a Jain temple in Village Masarh, 6 miles west of Arrah another place of antiquity which gose back to the time of Harsa. Its 'Murti lekha' bears the date Baishakha sudi chaudas 1876. Huen Tasns has referred to this place as Mo-no-so-lo or Mahasara, which was close to the Ganges at that time. Some Rathor Jains of Marwar settled t. re in the fourteenth century and an inscribed Jain image bearing