Jain Journal 1984 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 29

APRIL, 1984
Brahmonical worship, but the shape is unmistakable and the four temples at Begunia display distinct affinity to the Chota Nagpur group.' Therefore it is not surprising that one of the ruined brick temples at Boram echoes the brick temple of Siddhesvara at Bahulara in Bankura, as regards structural peculiarities, sculptural arrangement and decorative detail. On these grounds it can also be plausibly assigned to the 10th century A.D. A stone image of Mahisamardini (c. 8th century A.D.) on the other hand betrays palpable influence of the early Bengal type of sculpture. Similarly the group of temples at Budhpur which like Boram is also situated on the Kasai river, betrary close architectural affinities with the Barakara temples. Dalmi on the bank of the Suvarnarekha, features ruins of a large number of brick temples of about the 10th century showing obvious relationship with contemporary Bengal temples. Some of the Dalmi sculptures resemble the finds at Boram. Beglar opines that there was a large Jaina establishment here in the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. succeeded say about the 11th century by Hinduism."
Traces of ruins of numerous temples and other buildings, recalling the Barakar type, have been noticed in Katrasgarh. Not far off, on both the banks of Damodar, at Chechgaongarh, marking the site of a large Jaina religious establishment there are extensive ruins containing traces of about 16 temples, large and small, including a large stone image of Tirthankara of about the 10th century A.D. The temples recall the structural form of neighbouring Radha sculptures showing simultaneous influence of the same. Large ruins of temples can also be seen at Pabanpur in Barabhum, a finely executed Jaina carving of about the 10th century A.D. collected from the same place is now preserved in the Indian Museum. A magnificent image of Rsabhanatha standing within a Rekha shrine from Jhalda, District Purulia, of the 11th century A.D. has been collected for the Asutosh Museum only last year. From the votive offerings too, secured from the region the Jaina character of the remains are apparent. The same affiliation is noticeable in the numerous statues and sculptures and temples at Pakbirra and Para. To Telkupi on the Damodar, however, goes the credit of having 'perhaps the finest and largest number of temples within a small place that is to be found anywhere in Chota Nagpur.' Although most of the remains appear to be Brahmanical, according to Beglar, some of them are undoubtedly Jaina including remains of a large brick monastery. It is interesting to note that Barakar type of temple have apparently influenced the construction and elevation
5 Eastern Indian School of Mediaeval Sculptures, pls. LXXVI. Beglar, Archaeological Survey of India Reports, Vol. VII.
7 N. K. Bose, Ibid., pl. 420.
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