Jainism in Bihar

Author(s): P C Roy Choudhary
Publisher: P C Roy Choudhary Patna

Page 63

there is, besides this, a second votive chaitya, and there may be others within that I could not see; the temple, wbich enshrined the colossal figure, must have faced west; it was very large, containing the full complemeat of preliminary chambers and hall in front of the sanctum."........
"To the north of this stands a line of four stone temples, three still standing, one broken ; these are of the usual singlecell pattern, and the doorway is not cut up into two portions; these then, as well as the brick one just noticed were singlecell temples, but at some subsequent period mandaps were added to them; they have, however, all got broken, leaving the facades of the temples complete, so that not only is it evident that they were simply added on afterwards, but it is rather evident that they were not even bounded into the walls of the original temples; the junctions, where any exist, are quite plain; all these temples face north.
North of this is another, but irregular, line of temples, five in number; of these, two are of stone and three of brick. the latter all ruined; of the stone ones, one is standing.
North of this is another line of four temples, three of stone and one of brick, all in ruins.”
Besides these temples there are also some mounds which may be the remains of either big temples or may be the remains of stupas. Jain tradition is also clearly visible in the remains of a few big tanks and in their vicinity a few more mounds. It is a pity that the temples and the scattered antiquities have been allowed to decay. Excavations may bave revealed an important phase of Jain culture.
A mela is held at Pakbira in the month of Chaitra where animal sacrifices used to be held. Since the last few years animal sacrifices are not being offered owing to persuasion by the Jains. An attempt is being made by some of the leading Jains of Purulia and Ranchi to build a temple at Pakbira and to preserve the Jain antiquities. Inspite of