Jain Journal 1989 07

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

Page 35

JAIN JOURNAL
Charra (Purulia)--This stronghold of Jainism once contained as many as seven temples of which two round temples now exist. Stone images and votive caumukha shrines representing the 24 Tirthankaras, have also been found from this place, which is only six miles to the north of Purulia.
Besides the aforesaid places there were other places of Jaina interest in the district of Purulia, viz. Sanka, Senera, Jhalda, Arsa and Balarampur.
In the district of Bankura also there were many Jaina temples, of which mention may be made of Bahulara, Ambikanagar, Citgiri Dharapat, Deulbhira, Barkola, Paresnath, Saresvar and Sallesvara.
Jaina temples have also been found at Deuliya in Burdwan. The Sundarbans area was possibly once an important centre of Jainism, as images of Tirthankaras have been from places like Nalgora, Chatrabhoga and Raipur. It is possible that 'Jatar Deul' in that region might have originally been a Jaina temple. Most of the aforesaid temples in Purulia were made of stone and consisted of a cella, vestibule portico, mandapa and ardha-mandapa. Stylistically, most of them belong to 5th-10th century A. D. Temple-building activities of the Jainas in Bengal were revived again in the 17th-18th century by the immigrant Jainas from Bikaner and Marwar, who built marvellous temples, chiefly in marble, in places like Berhampur, Azimganj and Calcutta, after a lull of about three centuries due to the inroads of Islam.
The sectarian rancour and animosity played not an insignificant part in converting Jaina establishments or shrines into corresponding Brahmanical and Buddhist norms and forms in subsequent years when Jainism became a spent force in Bengal.
As to the images in stone and bronze of the Jaina Tirthankaras and other accessory deities, special mention may be made of the images of Rsabhanatha from Bhadrakali in Hooghly, Mandoil in Rajshahi, Surohar in Dinajpur, Jhalda, Patamda, Sanka, Bharabhum, Pakbira in Purulia, Ambika, Ambikanagar, Barkola in Bankura, Rajpara in Midnapur, Adina in Maldah (inscribed in Arabic characters of the 14th century A.D.,
8 For a detailed description of the images of Jaina Church, please consult B.C.
Bhattacharyas' Jaina Iconography.