| Temples & Legends Of Bengal |
 |
| Temples & Legends Of India |
THE TEMPLES IN PURULIA |
|
| The story of
Jainism in this district and in some other neighboring districts in Chotanagpur Division
in Bihar has an interesting background.5 As mentioned the geographical position of Purulia district being on the route from Bihar to Orissa helped a spurt of Jainism and Mahavira had visited this area. The royal support was also partially responsible for the spread of Jainism. King Bimbisar, Kharavela, the line of Rashtrakutas and the Chandelas who had ruled this part of the country were sympathetic if not active supporters of Jainism. A class of Brahmanas is Purulia district now known as Pachhima Brahmans are traditionally taken to belong to the clan of Vardhaman Mahavir. The reason for decline of Jainism in this area has to be looked into. Historically it is known that the Chola soldiers on their way to the expedition under Rajendra Chola Deva and on their return after defeating Mahipala of Bengal in the first quarter of the 11th century A.D. had destroyed many of the Jain temples and images in Manbhum district. The Pandeyas who also wielded aconsiderable influence were fanatic iconoclasts. The rise of Lingayat Saivism in this area apparently had largely contributed to the decline of Jainism. |
|
| About Temples In Purulia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
