Jainism in Bihar

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

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CHAPTER X. JAIN ANTIQUITIES IN SHAHABAD The district of Shababad has a number of ancient Jain antiquities. This is also a district where old Jain tradition has been kept up by the building of a few modern Jain sbrines and the establishment of some important institutions for spreading Jain culture. Although the Jains are Qumerically a very small percentage of the population in the district and are mostly confined to the towns of Arrab, the district headquarters of Shahabad, and Dalmianagar, a growing place of commercial importance, the Jains have directly influenced the cultural activities of the district. The premier Degree College of Arrab, the district headquarters, the college at Sasaram, a subdivisional headquarters in Shababad district and a number of libraries owe their existence to the munificence of the Jains.
A number of ancient antiquities identified to be of the 6th century A. D. to 9th century A. D. have been excavated from Chausa in Buxar subdivision. These antiquities include about 20 images of Jain Tirtbankars, Nemi Nath, Rishava Nath and others and a Dharma Chakra. These relics are now preserved in the Museum in Patna. The find of these relics definitely indicates that the district of Shahabad was important from Jain point of view in the 6th Century A. D. It may be mentioned here that Dharma Chakras have so far been found only in such places where Jainism bad its stronghold. They are rare finds.
Masarh, a village six miles west of Arrah, is also another place where some ancient Jain antiquities have been found. This place was visited by Hiuen-Tsiang who has referred to
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