Jainism in Bihar

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

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name is derived from a big tank to the north of the village. The tank is now utterly neglected and overgrown with weeds. There is an island in the middle covered with thick neglected vegetation. The area undoubtedly recalls glorious days. It is important to mention that there are some low mounds of bricks like Stupas so very common in Jain shrines and there are ruins of old temples and images. Beglar's opinion quoted above refers to these temples. A visit to Benusagar which the writer paid was well worth it.
Similar Stupas or mounds of earth are also seen at Kesnagarh, a village situated south-west of Lalgarh in the extreme south east of Kolban. There is another small village Ruam in Dhalbhum situated two miles south-west of Mahulia. There are some old remains at Ruam consisting of a mote, tanks, and accumulation of ancient copper slag and all these indicate a township at one time. Regarding Ruam, O'Malley mentions ; "It contains some remains which probably mark a former settlement of the Sravakas or lay Jains, though local tradition ascribes them to a Rajah called Ruam who is said to have a fort here." (District Gazetteer, 1907).
There is no doubt that the Saraks had largely influenced the Khiching type of architecture. Some of the pieces of sculpture found at Itapukri have been taken to the Patna Museum. Some of the relics of Kaching which are clearly of Jain origin are now kept in the Kaching Museum of the Orissa Government.
The reason as to how Jainism had struck deep roots in Singhbhum is not far to seek. Along with Manbhum this district borders Utkal or Kalingadesa (Orissa). There were rocogaised ancient trade routes between Utkal and these two districts. Singhbhum was also included in the Empire of Kharavela, the groat Jain Emperor of Orissa. Orissa had been a great Jain stronghold from the days of Mahavira Vardbaman, who had personally preached his religion in Kalinga. It is said that Mahavira went to Kalinga as the
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