Pakbirra Jain temples

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

Pakbirra Jain temples
Purulia Deul
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityTirthankaras
FestivalsMahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationPurulia, West Bengal
Geographic coordinates15°51′29″N 74°31′17″E
Architecture
StylePala architecture
Date established9th century CE
Temple(s)3

History

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

Architecture

The temple complex consist of three stone temples,[3] 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.[4] 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.[4][5] 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.[6]

Pakbirra Jain complex also has an open-air museum with sculptures of Jain deities.[7]

  • 7.5 feet (2.3 m) Padmaprabha
  • Rishabhanatha
  • Shantinatha
  • Statue of Ambika at Pakbirra
  • Jain temple in Banda

References

Citation
  1. Hunter 1886, p. 282.
  2. Majumder 2014, pp. 1-2.
  3. West Bengal tourism.
  4. Beglar 1878, p. 193.
  5. Shah 1987, p. 157.
  6. Purulia district.
  7. Gupta 2018.

Sources
  • Beglar, J. D. (1878). Archaeological Survey of India. 8. Calcutta: Government central Press.
  • Hunter, William Wilson (1886). The Imperial Gazetteer of India. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. 9 (2 ed.). London: Trübner & Company.
  • Shah, Umakant Premanand (1987). Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-208-6.
  • "Travel and Tourism : Purulia". The Official Website of Purulia District. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  • "Jain pilgrimage". Department of Tourism (West Bengal). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  • Gupta, Amitabha (22 August 2018). "Rediscover Purulia's Timeless Heritage". Outlook traveller. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  • Majumder, Shobha (2014). "Understanding the archaeological contexts and iconic details of Jaina antiquities from rakṣatpura and śaṅkā, district Puruliā, West Bengal" (PDF). SOAS University of London. International Journal of Jaina Studies.
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