Jaina Monuments and Places First Class Importance

Author(s): T N Ramchandran
Publisher: Veer Shasan Sangh Calcutta

Page 14

JAINA MONUMENIS
lai and venerablc personality One Dighatapassī, a Jaina 1cciuse of the time, resided there. Upār, a rich householder of the locality, played the role of a sāvaka or lay worshipper of the great Tîrthankara. Lepa was another rich householder of Nalanda to figure among the Jaina sāvakas. He had a "bath ing hall which was beautiful and contained many hundreds of pillars"
While thus Rājagrha takes the foremost place in the history of Jainism, its value as an archaeological centre is outstanding. It is well known to you all that the Archæological Survey of India have been excavating and preserving the monuments at Räjgir over since the Department was started The possibilities of New Rājgir (District Patna) as a suitable centre for a chæological excavation are such that we must resolve now, on this grand occasion of Lord Mahāvīra's Säsana Celebration, to help the Archæological Survey to acquire the site of New Rājgir for excavation. I am sure the Jainas whose thirst for culture is proverbial will rally round and help the Archæological Survey to acquire, preserve, and excavate New Rājgir.
2. BIHAR :
Barābar Hills.
Chaste and severe like Asokan Pillars are the dwellings and chapels excavated in the hills of Bihar Like the chaityas or hernitages from which they were copied, these consist of a small oblong chamber in one instance with rounded ends) with or without a circular apartment at one extremity, but in only one example is the timber work of their prototypes reproduced in stone. The example referred to is the Lomas Rși Cave, the ornamental facade of which is an accurate replica of a wooden