Jainism in Bihar

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

Page 88

mentioned here that one theory is that Gautam the main disciple of Mahavira Swamin obtained Nirvan at Gunawad twelve years after the Nirvan of Mahavira. But this theory is not accepted by all. According to the other section Gautam Swamin obtained his Nirvan at Vipulgram (Rajgir). It is, however, commonly believed that Gunawad is a place that was often visited by Gautam. It may also be mentioned that even now there is a fair sprinkling of Jains at Nawadah and at Hisua, a prosperous village near Nawadah. Gunawad has now got two recently built Jain temples. There is no doubt, however, that the site is old.
At page 98 of the Journal Buchanan mentions about his visit to Baragung which has been identified as Baragaon (Nalanda). Here he saw some clearly cut Jain images with snake emblems. He also found at this place a small temple of the Serawaks which he thought was about 100 years old. The doors into the temple were made so small that one had to creep in on all fours. They may have been deliberately made to impress the quality of humility on man-kind. Some of the Jain relics of Nalanda are now in the Nalanda Museum.
Buchanan mentions that the area was known as Kundilpuri and the residence of Maga Raja. He had also visited Pawapuri and it is worth while quoting Buchanan's description of the temples at Baragaon and Pawapuri. The description is quoted in extenso*.
"The temple of the Jain at Baragang is called Budh Mundol, and is the place where Gautoma died. The present temple was built by Sungram Saha, a merchant, who lived about 250 years ago and placed in it an image of Santonath, one of the Avatars. Kundilpur is also called Pompapuri. The Budh temples had been there before. There were no
*The spellings of the Dames have been kept as mentioned by Buchanan. Buchanan's observations are not always correct nor are his informations on which the observations are made. The quotation is given more because of its descriptive value. (P. C. Roy Choudhury).
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