Jain Journal 1997 10

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

Page 27

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXII, No. 2 October 1997
stone of the Tirthankaras and Sasanadevatās, appertaining to Jaina hierarchy. In the following paragraphs the temples in the districts of Purulia (part of the Manbhum which has come to West Bengal and has become a separate district), Bankura and Burdwan are being described briefly locality-wise.
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Deoli (Purulia)-This place, which is several miles to the southwest of Purulia town, was once a stronghold of the Jainas. The vestiges of the same consists of four stone temples in the four corners with a larger temple in the centre. In one of this 'pañcayatana' group is found the life-size image of Tirthankara Aruānātha-over the trefoil area round the head of which, was noticed the carved out images of three Tirthankaras in each side of the two rows. From Jorapukur, a place adjacent to Deoli, several images of Jaina hierarchy were found.
Pakbira (Purulia) - Several temples in brick and stone as also stone images of the Tirthankaras were found from this place, which is only few miles to the south-east of Purulia town. Images include those of Mahavira, Parshvanath, Kunthunatha, Neminatha, Santinātha and Rṣabhanatha. Most of these images are now being housed in a shed, which possibly occupied the site of a stone temple. Particular mention may be made of one colossal stone image of Mahavira, locally known as 'Bhiram'. There is an inscription in the pedestal of the image written in the characters of the 9th-10th centuries A.D., i.e. the time of Pāla suzerainty over Bengal. Some have characterised it as an image of Chandraprabha. The name 'Bhiram' was probably derived from the second part of the name 'Mahavira'. The place named Pakbira was also possibly derived from 'Mahāvīra (Pākbira meaning the place of Bira, i.e. Mahāvīra). Some of the temples at Pakbira face to the west and south. The temple, which covers the shed, was once a stupendous temple and faced to the west.
Chara (Purulia)-This stronghold of Jainism once contained as many as seven temples of which two round temples now exist. Stone images and votive 'chaumukha' shrines representing the 24 Tirthankaras, have also been found from this place, which is only six miles to the north of Purilia.
Besides the aforesaid places there were other places of Jaina interest in the district of Purulia, viz. Sankā, Senerā, Jhāldā, and Ārsā and Balarampur.
In the district of Bankura also there were many Jaina temples, of which mention may be made of Bāhularā, Ambikanagar, Chitgiri, Dharāṛāt and Deulbhirā, Barkolā and Paresnāth, Śaresvar and Šallesvara.