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JAINA BIBLIOGRAPHY
colossal image now worshipped at Päkbira under the name of Bhiram as Vira, the 24th Tirthankara. Between 10th and 16th centuries they were destroyed by Bhumij and others.
Pp. 83-85. Sārāks : an archaic community; found in considerable number in Mänbhüm and adjoining districts. Their accounts form Mr. GAIt's census report.
The word Särāk derived from Śrävaka (hearer) indicating the laymen distinguished from the Yatis or monks; and still survivers as a regular caste (Saraogi); origin of the caste according to Brahma-Vai-Varttapuräna the union of a Jotaha man with a woman of the Kuvinda or weaver caste. This shows that at the time when this Purāņa was, or when the passage was interpolated, the Särāks had already taken to weaving as a means of livelihood. Mr. RISLEY (Census of India) says that the Sāräks of Manlehum, though now Hindus, retain traditions of having formerly been Jains.
Manlehum and Ranchi Sāräks originally Agarwäls migrated from the country on the bank of Saraji (U. P.'; first settled in Dhalbhūm according to Manlehum Sārāks Ranchi Säräks first settled in Ogra near Puri and later in Chotā Nagpur: Burdwan and Birbhum Säräks came from Gujarat. They were traders and revered Parsvanätha. They have ten gotras. Their sub-caste based on locality and trade. They are strict vegetarians and do not use the word "cut". Mostly found in Raghunāthpur, Para, Jhapra. According to DALSON (Ethnology of Bengal) they had never been convicted of any heinous crime.
P. 264. Balarāmpur. BEGLAR described the ruins here as consisting of nude figures of the Tirthankaras.
Pp. 265-66. Borun. Situated from miles south of railway station Garh Jaypur. The three brick ruin temples fully described; DALTON ascribed them to the Śrāwaks or Jains.
Pp. 268-69. 4 miles north-east of Purnhia. Its Jain ruins.
Dalm on the North bank of the Subarna-rekha river. Its Jain ruins; largely populated by the Sräwaks between the ninth and eleventh centuries .D.
P. 275. Katras (a railway station) 8 miles off on both sides of the Damodar River. Its Jain ruins now at Belonja
P. 277. Pabanpur, a village in Barabhüm pargana. Tirthankar images. Pakbira. Two miles east of Puncha and 25 miles south-cast of Purul. Jain statues and sculptures.
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