Jainism in India

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 11

(x) edges of tools, had vanished into a tomb. Now the ghost of history had stuck into the papers of Muni ji (the monk)".
(D) "This is Bahuriband--42 miles north of Jabalpur. This is the abode of 'Khanuvadev', a statue in black stone 13ft in height. Gorgeous, undoubtedly gorgeous. Local residents perform a strange ritual here in order to extract favours from the imaginary deity. Every passerby hits the satue with his shoe. In spite of all correspondence with the department of archaeology and even agitations, the ritual could not be stopped. The pretext is that the state does not interfere in the matters of religious rituals. We are a secular state; we protect history!"
The pathetic condition of Indian archaeology in general and Jain archaeology in particular is that the artifects reported in remote areas by one archaeologist are seldom found by the later generation archaeologist. Many of them are destroyed by ravages of time and nature, many others are destroyed by ignorant local populace, but a major portion is taken away by a variety of poachers. Besides this, in order to glorify the present, the past is also being buried under new construction by Jains themselves.
In the enthusiasm for renovation many things and places of importance have been mutilated. There have been instances where sectarian dogmatism has also taken its toll by damaging less known evidences of archaeological importance. In order to possess a temple or for some other ulterior motive, newer sects take to covering or removing original inscription. Blinded by sectarian dogma these people forget that in order to enhance the false glory of their sect they are destroying important historical evidences and spreading dark blotches on the gorgious canvas of Jain history and culture. Valuable and fine antiquity is being traded for cheap and crude modernity.
The inaction of Jains has made them loose not only the evidences written on palm leaves or paper and engraved or sculpted on stone, it has also caused the loss of complete ethnic groups of followers of Jain tenets. O'Malley had mentioned in the District Gazetteer of Singhbhum back in 1966: "The name Sarawak, Serak or Sarak is clearly a corruption of Sravaka, the Sanskrit word for a hearer, which was used by the Jainas for the lay brethern....". Shri Bhanwarlal Nahata further comments_-"The Saraks are engaged in agriculture and weaving. Their life style is pious. They are vegetarians and avoid eating after sunset. Their clan names are--Adidev, Anantdev, Dharmadev, etc. and they are devotees of Lord Parshwanath. In their villages remains of Jain temples and idols can be found in abundance. Many of the statues have been broken and others mutilated or transformed into idols of Bhairava or Devi." Hardly any effort has been made to bring them back within