Jainism in Bihar

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

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vandalism due to neglect for many years there are still some finely preserved images. There are now three temples in ruins and about 20 images lying collected at three places. The temples are buried and the Shikhars (tops) of the temples are to be seen. A number of images are also lying halfburied. One of the images is 5 cubits high and of Shri Bahubalji. Unfortunately this image of Shri Bahubalji has developed a crack. This image is worshipped at the present by the villagers as Bhaironath. There are arrangements to give a bath to the image of Shri Bahubalji. The image is now well besmeared with oil and vermillion owing to the worship by the Hindus as Bhaironath. A number of the images lying scattered are in Khadgasan pose. The images also include Parsvanath, Mahavirji, Padmavati and Rishavdev. The images are apparently ancient and an opinion has been hazarded that tbey may be 2,000 years old. Carvings are superb and most of the images are still intact.
Apparently Pakbira was a very important place at one time. Several smaller villages nearabout Pakbira, although they have separate names, are commonly grouped under the name of Pakbira. At some of these smaller villages there are exquisitely carved stone door jambs or pillars. In the neighbouring village of Pankha there are four images which have been damaged. One of them is that of Shri Rishavdev with 24 Tirthankars on the sides. There is another rare specimen at this village. On a stone slab a tree of the height of 2 cubits has been carved with a child sitting at the top of the tree. Under the tree there are figures indicating father and mother and the mother is with a baby. The figure depicting a father has got the sacred thread. Near them stand seven persons. It is difficult to come to a correct appraisal of this specimen but probably it indicates the birth of some Tirthankar.
In the neighbouring village of Budbpur there are a number of images which are worshipped once apoually in the course
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