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APRIL, 1983
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Some Jaina Images at Pakur (S. P) :
Pakur' is a sub-divisional headquarter of the district of Santal Parganas. It is well connected with the district headquarter Dumka by a metalled road and by rail with Bluugalpur and Calcutta as well. The District Gazetteer of Santal Parganas is quite silent about Jainism. But the author of this paper surveyed the toivn of Pakur and inspected four early images of Jaina Tirthankaras which at present are enshrined in a newly constructed temple at local Harindunga Buzur, just near the Pakur Railway Station.
The Digambar Jain Mandir, Pukur has some bronze images. The author of this paper came to know from the Secretary of that temple that all the Jaina images belonged to Rajasthan. Their forefathers brought these icons with them to Pukur for religious purposes. At present only five or six Jaina families, all engaged in business, are living at Pakur. The temple contains only four images, two of marble and two bronzes.
· The oldest icon represents-Bhagavan Parsvanatha. (fig. 3) It is a bronze which measures 10.2 x 5.1 centimetres. According to an inscription engraved upon its pedestal, we know that it was donated to a templo in the Vikram samvat 1527 (A.D. 1-470). Bhagavan Puursvanatha is sealed in samparyarikasana upon a high platform. His hair tied in uşntsa style gives an early look. The image represents the Jina seated crosslegged on a scat placed over a punc'uruthu pedestal with both palms placed one over the other on the lap in the attitude of meditation (ugimudra). Parsvanatha is readily distinguished by the presence of the 'scven hooded serpent canoping over his head. lle has been represcited entirely nude suggesting his Digambara form. He has elongated ears, mark of frivursa symbol over his chest, and cukru over the sples of his feet. In accordance with the canonical texts, Parsvanatha should be accompanied by the Yaksa Dharanendra and Yaksini Padmavati. But in the present example these two companions are conspicuous by their absence. The front face of the pedestal has three.niches, separated from each other. In the centrul nicho we find the representation of snaked the lanchana of Bhagavan Parsvanatha while in the two other niches there are two lions hulling the seat of Blutgavan Parsvanatha over their back. The entire representation is fairly good. In the knowledge of the present author who extensively surveyed the Jaina images in the "Sinha, A.K., Santal Parganas District through the Ages', Bulletin of the Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Vol XXIV, Ranchi, 1990, pp. 77-84. Bhattacharya, B.C., The Jaina Iconography, Delhi, 1968 reprint, p. 58. Rupumanduna, Verse 6.
