Jain Journal 1984 04

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

Page 45

154
origin of the name of Safa is not known, but it appears to be clearly associated with Jainism. Hibert had identified Dalmi as the capital of the Safa province and the entire Dalmi hills are full of Jaina antiquities. It is this province of Safa which is identified with a part of Radhadesa which was visited by Lord Mahavira.
JAIN JOURNAL
Balarampur and Boram are two big villages near Purulia which have got temples with Jaina images and it appears these temples were Jaina in origin. From Candankiari village, a few miles away from Purulia a large number of Jaina antiquities were accidentally discovered. Some of the images of the Jaina Tirthankaras discovered in Candankiari form one of the finest collections of Indian antiquities now preserved in Patna Museum. Most of these images have clear Jaina cinhas. The date is of the 11th century A.D. A number of other Jaina images have been found at villages Kumahari and Komardaga within 5 miles of Candankiari. The temples and sculptures at Pakbirra about 32 miles from Purulia were identified by J.D. Beglar as of clear Jaina origin. Near the temples are a number of mounds which have not been excavated. There is no doubt that the entire area of Pakbirra was once the seat of Jaina culture, Even now a large number of Jaina images are lying here and one of the images is 5 cubit high of Padmaprabha. Near it are some other Jaina images of Parsvanatha, Mahavira, and Padmavati. The carvings are superb and the images are still in tact and may be about 200 years old.❤
The villages of Budhpur, Daruka and Charra have also a number of Jaina antiquities. At Charra there are still images which are clearly of Kunthunatha, Candraprabha, Dharanendra-Padmavati, Rsabhadeva and Mahavira. It is understood that quite a large number of images have been removed by the military people when they had a colony at Charra during the Second Great War.
The writer noticed at Deoli, an insignificantly small village, a number of very old Jaina temples. In the sanctum of the largest temple there is instituted a Jaina figure known as Aranatha. This figure is now worshipped by the Hindus. The main temple which is now in ruins consisted of a sanctum, antarāla and a mahamanṇḍapa. Near about under the tree there is a Jaina figure in nudity with the serpent-hood above the head.
Another small village Suissa has a collection of statues that had been noticed by Beglar which is identified as of Jaina origin. Some of the Jaina antiquities mentioned by Beglar have now disappeared. At village Bhawanipur about 8 miles east of Purulia there is an image of Rsabhadeva