Jain Journal 1984 04

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

Page 43

Jainism in Manbhum
P. C. Roy CHOUDHURY
The message of Jainism was carried by Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, born on the soil of Bihar through Radhadesa to Utkala, modern Orissa. Radhadesa included the area previously known as the district of Manbhum and now a portion of which is known as Purulia district in West Bengal. Manbhum was the tract through which the commonly known road meandered to Puri, which has the temple of Jagannatha. In the course of his itinerary, Mahavira was roughly treated in Radhadesa which only went to strengthen his confidence in himself and with redoubled vigour, he accepted the challenge and spread the creed of Jainism in the same area.
The efforts of Mahavira were apparently crowned with success and as unknown to most of us, lie scattered, throughout this area, Jaina antiquities in abundance. The adjoining district of Singbhum in Bihar is also full of Jaina relics but it is peculiar that while some attention has been paid to the Jaina relics in Singbhum and the adjoining districts of Orissa upto the famous antiquities in Khandagiri caves, very little attention has been paid to these in Manbhum district. Vandalism has been responsible for the disappearance of many of the wonderful antiquities in Manbhum area. Quite a large number of them are being worshipped as orthodox Hindu deities. Some of them are even found on the door steps, the walls and parapets of houses, often besmeared with vermillion. In this short article some of these antiquities will be referred to with the fond hope that the attention of the proper authorities and scholars will be drawn to them.
These relics offer a field for investigation as to the periods to which the antiquities refer to and probably a scholar may discover valuable data for tracing the evolution of Jainism which spread through Manbhum to Orissa and from Orissa to the south. It is a mistake to think that Jainism has completely died out in this area. What has happened is that without their knowledge sizable sections of the population in different pockets are following Jaina creed—there are villages where ahimsā is concretely practised by villagers by being scrupulously vegetarian, there are places where people do not follow the usual casteism and so on. Another great effect of Jainism in this area appears to have been to iron out the differences amongst other creeds. Side by side of the Jaina anti
es in Manbhum area we find specimens of orthodox Hindu antiquity,