Jainism in India

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

Page 17

JAINISM IN INDIA
The creed has left a large number of antiquities in the land of Bihar. Many of them are now in ruins. A large number of them have been converted into objects of pilgrimage and worship by the orthodox Hindus. A large number of Jaina antiquities and figures are accepted by mistake as Buddhistic in origin.
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In spite of all this, Bihar is still very rich in Jaina antiquities. The temples on Parsvanatha and Kuluha hills in Hazaribagh district, the shrines at Pawapuri and Rajgir in Patna district, Manbhum, Singhbhum, Sahabad, Bhagalpur and other districts are sacred spots for the Jainas and important places of visit by men who have an antiquarian interest in them. Many neglected Jaina statues, relics and pieces of architecture scattered all over the state of Bihar remind us of the glorious heritage. The Saraks in Singhbhum district had not only colonised the district, but were the pioneers in smelting iron and copper ore in Singhbhum.
The Jainas, although in a minority in Bihar today, are in the forefront in trade and business. The heritage of the Jaina shrines has been enriched by quite a few of them in different parts of Bihar. Among the modern Jaina temples particular mention could be made of those at Ranchi, Purulia, Lachwar (Monghyr), Gunawah near Nawadah, Gaya, Arrah, Hazaribagh and Bhagalpur.
In this way the torch of Jainism which was lit up in Bihar from the time of Rsabha, has been kept burning in the state of Bihar. It may be mentioned that Bihar was the place of birth for three of the Tirthankaras. Sitalanatha was born on Kuluha hill, Munisuvrata, the twentieth Tirthankara, was born in Rajagrha, the twentyfirst Tirthankara, Naminatha was born in Mithila. Bihar is also the place where twenty Tirthankaras had attained their nirvana at Parsvanatha hill. These Tirthankaras were:
Ajitanatha Sambhavanatha
Abhinandana
Sumatinatha
Padmaprabha
Suparsvanatha
Candraprabha
Suvidhinatha
Sitalanatha
Sreyamsanatha Vimalanatha
Anantanatha
second
third
fourth
fifth
sixth
seventh
eighth
ninth
tenth
eleventh
thirteenth
fourteenth