Jainism in Bihar

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

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it was vaguely mentioned that "some of the temples were Jain or Buddhist, as numerous votive chaityas with mutilated figures, either of Buddha or of one of the Jain hierarchs, lie in the village. But it appears from the remains of sculptures lying about, that the greater number were Brahmanical, and principally Vaishnavic. The only tradition regarding them, is that they and some large tanks in the vicinity were constructed by the Sravaks, here called Saraks."
While pointing out that the informations regarding the Jain shrines and relics in the List of Ancient Monuments in the Chotanagpur Division published by the Government in 1896 are extremely meagre and somewhat misleading one cannot blame the persons responsible for drawing up this report. Jain antiquities had been neglected for centuries before 1857 and one can understand why inspite of the references in Buchanan's travels or in Beglar's accounts there should be such lack of information.
The story of Jainism in the districts of Chotanagpur whether in Manbhum or in Singhbhum or any other parts has an interesting background. There is no doubt that the geographical position of Manbhum and Singhbhum districts being on the route from Bihar to Orissa there was an Impetus to the spread of Jainism. Royal support was also partially responsible for the spread of Jainism in this area. King Bimbisar, Kharavela, the lines of Rashtrakutas and Chandelas who had ruled this part appear to have been at least sympathetic if they were not active supporters of Jainism. There is another theory that among the Brahmins living in Manbhum there is a group who call themselves Pachhima Brahmins and these Pachhima Brahmins were described as belonging to the clan of Vardhaman Mahavira. These Brahmins who claim for themselves the privilege of being the earliest of the Aryan stock settling in this part might also have encouraged the spread of this creed with the patronage of kings or the governors of the sympathetic lines of kings.
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