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"JAINISM IN BENGAL"
'Times of India' dated 3rd June, 2008 under the column 'Lost City of the Jainas,' that describes about a village named Puchra, 20 kilometers away from Asansol. 'Puchra' means - five shrines i.e. five Temples. It is mentioned in its history that "Twenty kilomentres from Asansol, a humpy road takes you to Punchra, a forgotten part of history where time has stood still for centuries. There are 50 families here, with a shared past like none else in the country. This is the only abode of the Bengali Jains. At first glance, the temples, the 'deities', and the numerous carved stones lying scattered in the dense undergrounds.
Most of the Jain families of Punchra lead a life of abstinence. They don't even eat onions, potatoes and masur dal.
The families call themselves 'Saraks' (a distortion of the word 'Shravak'), or the Adi Jains. Arun Majhi, priest of the local Jain temple, believes that Lord Mahavira attained enlightenment on the banks of the nearby Ajoy river. Those who came in touch with him were called 'Shravaks'. He claims that the ruins of an entire city.... dating back 1,400 years... lie buried under the village."
Similarly the remainings of the Mauryan empire have been gathered from different parts of Bengal. These remainings illustrate that the Adi Dharma of Bengal was Jainism. Moreover, it also denotes that its founder was Rishabdev. The Adina Mosque of Gaur Malda was actually the Ancient Temple of Adinath Rishabdev.
We come to know from few traditional description and folk tales that the main disciple of Bhagwan Mahavir was Pattadhar Sudharmaswami and his disciple Jambuswami attained salvation at kotpur. A stupa has been built in their memory. Today Kotpur is named as 'Devikot', which is also known as Gangarampur region of South Dinajpur district in West Bengal. After the completion of thorough research studies, the eminent historian, Prof. Chittaranjan Pal has written. on this matter elaborately-- "legends embedded in Divyavadana and Asokavadana reveal that from the days of Gautama Buddha to the days of king Asoka, Pundravardhana was mostly dominated by the Jainas. On the other hand, another old tradition reveals that there were two very ancient Jaina holy places at Pundravardhana . . . one at Pundraparvata and the other at Kottapura later known as Devakotta. Kottapure / Koti Tirtha were considered to be the most holy place because here Mahamuni Jambuswami attained nirvana and cast his mortal body. All classes of Jainas whether monks or lay devotees used to come to Kottapura / Koti Tirtha to worship the monument or the mausoleum of the great saint from far and near.
(Chitta Ranjan Pal)
The last Shrut Kevli Bhadrabahu belonged to this region. Godas was his disciple. The four branches of the disciples of Godas had special attachment with Bengal. These four branches are Tamralipta--Tamluk city, Vangarh near Kali......... Dinajpur, Mahasthangarh in Vagural Dasikharvatiya Medinipore, few scholars relate it with Komila. All these branches are related to Bengal.
The Greek scholar Megasthenis mentioned about the powerful empire of Bengal in his book 'Indica'. According to him, Alexander was frightened from not only the Army of Magadh, but
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