Some Jaina Temples of Purulia
By Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay
Summary
Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay presents a meticulous architectural study of several Jaina temples in Purulia district. The essay is organised by site. At Tuisama, he notes that a lone stone temple survives: its curvilinear rekha shikhara rises above a slender vimāna, with a high beki (neck) and well‑moulded āmalaka wheel. The temple’s gaṇḍī (tower) is built of plain stone courses projecting at the base and narrowing towards the top. At Charra, Mukhopadhyay compares the temple with its counterpart at Tuisama and points out improvements: a more gradual curve in the shikhara, finely moulded āmalaka and beki, and the presence of caitya motifs on the pāga sides. He analyses the wall decoration and notes the use of lime mortar in the beki. The ruined temples of Pakbirra are next; casual excavations revealed the buried pābhāga (base) and numerous images. Mukhopadhyay describes the piḍha‑style temples with sapta‑ratha projections, khurā‑shaped mouldings and highly decorated becis. He discusses the pancāyatana group at Deoli, where a central shrine and four corner shrines display different doorway treatments, suggesting different dates of construction. The article includes detailed descriptions of several miniature caumukha temples recovered from Charra and Pakbirra. Mukhopadhyay also enumerates the dates proposed by scholars based on stylistic comparisons—generally placing the temples between the 8th and 11th centuries—and compares the Purulia temples to those at Telkupi and Khajuraho. Fifteen photographs illustrate architectural features such as the pidha roofs, caumukha miniatures and the ruined facades. Throughout, the author emphasises the aesthetic quality of the stone carving and the need to preserve the monuments against further deterioration.
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Conclusion
Mukhopadhyay’s careful documentation of Purulia’s temples reveals a rich corpus of Jaina architecture distinguished by its adaptation of the rekha and pidha forms. Variations in mouldings, doorways and plans attest to local creativity within canonical frameworks. By highlighting these features and providing photographic evidence, the article underscores both the artistic merit of the Purulia temples and the pressing need for their conservation.