A Survey of Jaina Antiquarian Remains in West Bengal
Summary
D. K. Chakravarty argues that Jainism held a significant historical presence in West Bengal, particularly in its western districts such as Purulia, Bankura, and Midnapur. The author establishes this by connecting the region to the travels of Mahavira, as documented in the Acaranga Sutra, and to the 9th-century Kathakoga tradition which places the Jaina saint Bhadravahu's birthplace at Devikot, modern Bangarh in West Dinajpur district. However, Chakravarty notes that direct archaeological evidence from the Mauryan period is scarce, though the author suggests that symbols on silver punch-marked coins from Lohapur in Birbhum, such as the svastika and yugmamina, might relate to the Jaina astamangalas. The article highlights a solitary Gupta-period epigraphic record from Paharpur in East Bengal and posits that a flourishing of Jaina art and architecture occurred under the patronage of the Pala rulers during the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. The primary evidence for this assertion comes from a rapid survey of numerous ruined temples, architectural fragments, and sculptures discovered in the western districts. These remains include representations of Tirthankaras with their parsavadevatas, caturmukha miniature votive shrines, and images of Sasanadevis. The author identifies the elegant brick temples at Bahulara in Bankura district and Satdeulia in Burdwan district as perhaps the two earliest surviving Jaina temples in the state. Chakravarty provides a detailed itinerary of these findings, describing specific sites such as Rajpara in Midnapur, where a 10th-century sculpture of Santinatha was found, and Pareshnath in Bankura, which contains a massive 684-centimeter sculpture of Parsvanatha. The article also discusses sites in Purulia district, including the village of Pakbirra, which houses a colossal 74-inch sculpture of Padmaprabha, along with numerous other fragmented images of Tirthankaras, yakshas, and yakshinis. The author concludes by lamenting that many of these antiquarian remains are now neglected and often misidentified by local villagers as Brahmanical or Buddhist deities, such as the snake-goddess Manasa or the Buddha. The article concludes with a bibliography referencing works by Bagchi, Bandyopadhyay, Banerjee, Das Gupta, and Ganguli.
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Conclusion
This survey demonstrates a significant, though largely neglected, Jain antiquarian presence in West Bengal, primarily concentrated in its western districts of Purulia, Bankura, and Midnapur. The findings reveal a flourishing religious tradition, particularly during the Pala period, which produced modest yet artistically sophisticated brick temples and exquisite sculptures of Tirthankaras and attendant deities. Many of these remains, now repurposed or venerated as Brahmanical figures like the Buddha or Manasa, indicate a historical transition where rising Brahmanical popularity led to the conversion or abandonment of Jaina shrines. The architectural fragments and stylistic evidence suggest a sustained, localized Jain heritage that, while lacking monumental scale, contributed to the region's religious and artistic landscape, underscoring the enduring spiritual legacy of Mahavira's early sojourn and the subsequent propagation of Jainism in the area.