Pakbirra Jain temples
Purulia Jain temple
Purulia Deul
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityTirthankaras
FestivalsMahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationPurulia, West Bengal
Architecture
StylePala architecture
Date established9th century CE
Temple(s)3

Pakbirra Jain temples is a group of three Jain temples in Pakbirra village in Purulia district of West Bengal.[1]

History

Purulia was an important Jain center from 6th to 13th century. The Pakbirra Jain complex dates back to c. 9th century.[2][3]

Architecture

The temple complex consist of three stone temples,[4] the smallest in eastern side and two in the north. These temples are built in triratha nagara style. There are fragments of large amalaka, and the stone kalasha with lotus buds. The principal temple is large and contains preliminary chambers and sanctum. The temple in west, enshrined the 7.5 feet (2.3 m) colossal idol of a Padmaprabha with lotus emblem stamped on pedestal.[5] The temple also has sculptures of eight tirthankaras, including three idols of Rishabhanatha, two of Mahavira, Sambhavanatha, Padmaprabha, Chandraprabha in kayotsarga posture and idols of two Yaksha and Yakshi beneath a tree with an image of Jina on top.[5][6] Three ayagapata or votive stupas and an idol of Ambika standing beneath a flowering tree with her children and an attendant with lion as her vehicle.[7] The temple also enshrines patta with 360 Jina figurine.[8]

Pakbirra Jain complex also has an open-air museum with sculptures of Jain deities.[9]

References

Citation

  1. ↑ Hunter 1886, p. 282.
  2. ↑ Majumder 2014, pp. 1–2.
  3. ↑ Bautze-Picron 1993, p. 282.
  4. ↑ West Bengal tourism.
  5. 1 2 Beglar 1878, p. 193.
  6. ↑ Shah 1987, p. 157.
  7. ↑ Purulia district.
  8. ↑ Majumder 2012, p. 1254.
  9. ↑ Gupta 2018.

Sources

Book

  • Beglar, J. D. (1878). Archaeological Survey of India. Vol. 8. Calcutta: Government central Press.
  • Hunter, William Wilson (1886). The Imperial Gazetteer of India. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 9 (2 ed.). London: Trübner & Company.
  • Shah, Umakant Premanand (1987). Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-208-6.

Web

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