Jainism in Bihar

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

Page 80

Mullick Bundh in Seraikella Town itself are best examples of such Sarak tanks."
The influenco of the Jains in the district of Singhbhum is also borne out by many existing ancient relics at Benusagar and other areas. The ruins of the temples and the pieces of ancient sculpture at Benusagar and at Kichang, six miles away from Benusagar in Keonjhar district of Orissa bave not yet been subjected to very deep scrutiny. Some of them show Jain influence and conventions. Beglar, as quoted in Archaeological Survey of India, Vol. XIII, ascribed the temple to the 7th century A.D. and observed about the sculpture as follows:
"The sculptures that exist are entirely Brahmanical with two exceptions. The exceptions are a small naked figure, which, from its evident resemblance to Jain figures, I take to be Jain ; and a seated figure with the hands in the attitude of teaching, resembling figures of Buddba, and like many of them with his head covered with little curls. That this figure is Buddhist, its general resemblance to figures of Buddha in Magadha leads me to believe; still there is nothing impossible in its being Jain. With these two exceptions, all the figures are Brabmagical, and almost exclusively Saivic, Ganesh, Kali, Mahisasuri Devi, etc., fragments of these being frequent. A remarkable piece of sculpture of curious and excellent execution and very spirited design, represents the forepart of an elepbant, elaborately ornamented. The elephant is kneeling evidently formed either a pedestal of a figure or projected from the plinth near the entrance of some one of the numerous temples, in a manner similar to the projecting figures of elephants in other parts of India. The excellence of execution and design of this piece of sculpture entitles it to a place in any museum."
Benusagar is a small village situated seven miles south of Majgaon in the extreme south-west of Kolban and on the boundary of Singhbhum and Mayurbhanj (in Orissa). The