Jain Journal 1984 04

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

Page 46

APRIL, 1984
155
with 24 Tirthankaras engraved on the side with the figures of Camaris, incessors and Yaksis. An image of Padmavati and Dharanendra is now worshipped as Hara Parvati.
The wirter made a tour of Hura-Punca Road and within a distance of 24 miles dozens of Jaina images were noticed lying neglected in almost every village on this road. Many of them appeared to be worshipped as some member of the Hindu pantheon. Some figures were lying under trees.
It is necessary to give more examples. As a matter of fact, there are dozens of other villages in Purulia district which have got hundreds of Jaina antiquities, some broken and some in tact. Recently some inscriptions have been found which have to be properly deciphered and edited. The Jainas had raised beautiful temples at almost impossible places in the area and the Hindus and Jainas had lived together for centuries and made a great contribution to the culture of Manbhum district. Manbhum offers a very rich area for further exploration and investigation so far as Jainism is concerned.