Jaina Temples of West Bengal

Author(s): D R Das
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

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Vol. III, 1997-2002
Jaina Temples of....
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nearly straight lined contour and round bhūmi-amalaka in each bhūmi push the Siddheśvara to about the 13th century. 4. Site clearance and mindless 'restoration by the State Government Department
concerned, while obliterating many features and altering the physical appearance of the temples at Pakbirra (Purulia District), have exposed their buried portions. It is now evident that the temple stood on a triratha plan. The rathas were segmented. The segments were multifaceted. The rāhā was wider than the kanikas.
The pābhāga mouldings of Temple 1 and 2 were six and five respectively. Apart from khurā and kumbha, no other moulding belonged to any formal category. On the rāhā of the pābhāga was displayed a spired shrine with a kalasa finial. On the kanikas of the jangha, a pilaster was treated like a khakhara superstructure. The garbhagrha, entered through a triangular door-opening, was surmounted by more than two ceilings. The diversification of the plan with segments and facets, six elements in the păbhaga, novel design of the pābhāga mouldings, occurrence of a miniature shrine on the pābhāga, treatment of the pilaster on the wall and triangular door-opening are positive indications of the Pakbirra temples dating not before the 12th century. 5. The temple of Charra has three mouldings (khurā, kumbha and khurā) in the
pābhāga. Its rāhā and kanika are of equal length. Inside it has at least two
ceilings. Note : The chronology of the early Bengal temples, including the Jaina shrines, have been
reconstructed in D. R. Das, "Eastern India : Lower Bengal and Chota-Nagpur" in Art and Architecture in India, Ed. M. A. Dhaky (as part of the project entitled History of Indian Science, Philosophy and Culture), Indian Council of Philosophical Research (to be published).
Annotations : 1. I. 8.3; Sacred Books of the East, Vol. XXII (Jaina Sūtras, Pt. I), p. 84; also see History of
Bengal, Vol.I (ed. R. C. Majumdar), Dacca 1943, p.36. 2. Majumdar, History., p. 410. 3. J. D. Beglar, "Report of A Tour through Bengal Provinces in 1872-73," Archaeological Survey
of India Report (Ed. A. Cunningham), Calcutta, Vol.VIII. 4. Archaeological Survey of India, Bengal Circle, Annual Report, 1902, p.14. 5. David McCutchion (“Notes on The Temples of Purulia District, "Census 1961 : West Bengal -
District Census Handbook : Purulia," p. (33) ) includes Tuisama within his list of Jaina centres with temples and images in the Purulia District. But the temple at Tuisama having votive shrines, carved with Brahmanical images, strewn around it had nothing to do with Jainism. McCutchion seems to have realised the mistake before his untimely death.