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JAINISM IN INDIA
Jaina antiquities in Sahabad-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 twenty images of Jaina Tirthankaras, and a dharma cakra. The find of these relics definitely indicates that the district of Sahabad was important from Jaina point of view in the 6th century A.D. It may be mentioned here that dharma cakras have so far been found only in such places where Jainism had its stronghold. They are rare finds.
Masarh, a village six miles west of Arrah, is also another place where some ancient Jaina antiquities have been found. This place was visited by Hiuen Tsang who has referred to the place as Mapasolo and mentions in his account that he found there a temple of Parsvanatha with eight Jaina images. The temple and the relics seen by Hiuen Tsang
now disappeared. Some Rathor Jainas of Marwar had settled at Mesarh in the 14th century A.D, and an inscribed Jaina image bearing the date of 1386 could be seen at Masarh. There is another Parsvanatha temple constructed in V.S. 1819.
The town of Arrah, the headquarters of the district of Sahabad, has a number of Jaina temples some of which are old and some are modern. At Dhanpura, a suburb of Arrah town there are several shrines of the Jainas. In all there are fortyfour Jaina temples in Arrah and its suburbs and one in Dalmianagar.
Jaina antiquities in Bhagalpur—The ancient Angadesa comprised of the present districts of Bhagalpur and Monghyr. Angadesa along with Magadha and Kasi-Kosala were the areas particularly visited by Mahavira. According to the list in Kalpa Sutra Mahavira had passed three rainy seasons at Campa, which was the capital of Anga. During
1ahavira's time Bimbisara conquered Anga and annexed it to Magadha. The capital Campa is identified with two villages of Champanagar and Champapur near Bhagalpur, the headquarter town of the district. Even a casual visit to the area replete with mounds and high earthen walls will suggest that this riverine area is ancient.
Mandara hill in Bhagalpur district was the place where the twelfth Tirthankara Vasupujya attained his nirvāna. Besides the temple there are other Jaina relics on the top of the hill.
Karnagarh hill near Bhagalpur has also several ancient Jaina relics. The story is that the prince Karan of Campa had embraced Jainism and
helped in the propagation of the faith. There is a Jaina vihāra towards Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
