| Temples & Legends Of Bihar |
|
 |
| Temples & Legends Of
India |
|
|
|
BENUSAGAR |
|
|
| The route from
Kalinga to Magadha, where Gorathagiri, Rajagriha, and Pataliputra were situated, ran
through the Singhbhum district. Singhbhum has been referred to in the Jaina treatise of
Achranga-Sutra, along with references to the neighboring areas known as Vajjabhumi.
Jainism had spread from Bihar to Kalinga through Singhbhum and it is not surprising as we
find relies of Jainism scattered in Manbhum and Singhbhum districts. Emperor Asoka was a
great patron of Buddhism but he was not unsympathetic or 'bigoted towards Jainism. It
can be readily said that during his time there was no active interference with Jaina Munis
or Jaina temples. Some of the periods of history relating to the area where Benusagar is
located are shrouded in the dark. It is, however, well-known that in the Seventh century
A.D. of the Christian era, one Sasanka ruled over this territory. A seal of Sasanka has
been found engraved on the hill of Rohtasgarh. Two copper plate records of Sasanka's
reign, found at Midnapore, establish that this area too was under his control. Ganjam
plates of Madhavaraja Il, dated 61920 A.D., mention hini as Maharajadhiraja, that is, the
suzerain lord of Ganjam.
From all these data it would be safe to assume that Sasanka had his rule extended from
Rohtasgarh to Ganjam in the early half of the Seventh century A. D. and that Singhbhum
must have been included within his empire. There is a tradition at Kichang, six miles away
from Benusagar in the Keonjhar district of Orissa, that the king named Sasanka built the
temples of Benusagar. This Sasanka lost his realm to the combined attack of Harsha and his
ally Bhaskaravarman, of Kamarupa. |
[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ] |
|
|
|
