Jinamanjari 2002 04 No 25

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 18

Jinamenjari, Volume 25, No.1, April 2002
JAINA ARCHITECTURE IN EASTERN INDIA
Dr. B.K. Tiwary, Professor of History,
U.R. College, Rosera, Bihar
The ancient Eastern India which formed a contiguous landmass of the states – Bengal including Bangladesh, Bihar, part of Uttar Pradesh and Orissa, had experienced a great impact of Jain culture, dating back to the times of Lord Pārśva in the ancient kingdom of Kāśi with its capital Vāraṇāsi. Despite the fact that Jainism thus has made valuable contributions to history and way of life of Eastern India, it has not so far received due attention and investigative study it deserves. However, the study of the history of Jainism by prominent scholars' like C.J. Shah, G.C. Roychoudhary, A.K. Chatterjee, U. Thakur, K.C. Jain, and B.K.Tiwary in various parts of Eastern India has been made, a comprehensive and an authentic picture of the existence, development and spread of the religion is still not adequate and remains incomplete.
In this situation, archaeological investigation and discoveries are warranted. Although the Archaeological Survey of India has launched exploration project of monuments all over the country in 1957, results of the project are not fully available. The works of scholars like Hiralal Jain,2 P.C. Nahar, Muni Jinavijayaji," B.C. Bhattacharya, A. Gosh, B. Jain, U.P. Shah and M.N.P. Tiwarrio on various aspects of Jain archaeology do not necessarily give a clear and detailed account of the whole archaeological findings and discoveries.
The Jain epigraphs and the ayagapatas from different parts of India studied or deciphered in the last hundred years have shown the existence, development and migration of Jains and their idealism. They record the commissioning and construction of temple monuments, sacred religious shrines, and the names of the sages and the laity - the kings, the queens or the commoners.
The inscription of Emperor Khāravela of ancient Kaļinga country in Eastern India records the earlier instance of the Jina image worshipped by the Nanda kings of Magadha,'' and Śravanabelagola
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