06_Jain_temple_jinsar

The Temple Complex of Jinsar near Kharagpur,
Paschim Medinipur: a Photo Journey

Tarun Tapas Mukherjee
Bhatter College, Dantan, Paschim Medinipur
Jainism as a religion had existed in Bengal—mainly in the Rarh region, for many
centuries. Lord Mahavira himself is said to have travelled to Bengal, and if it be
true, he must have preached the religion himself. A number of ancient Jain and
Buddhist texts attest to the dominance of Jainism in the ancient Gouda kingdom.
However, afterwards it lost much of its position in the triangular struggle involving
the Brahminical Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism for dominance in various parts
of the early medieval post-Pala period. In the 12th century Jainism received royal
patronage from Anantavarman Choda-Ganga-Deva (1078 AD), the Odishan ruler
who occupied the entire southwest Bengal up to the river Bhagirathi and created
his second kingdom at Ambikanagar, Bankura. Many temples for the Digambara
sect were built in Bankura and Purulia in the 11th and 12 century AD in honour of
Parswanatha and Mahavira.
When I made a visit to pre-Islamic Jain temple complex near Kharagpur in the
district of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, I recalled the history. I had to recall
because no record of this precious structures can be found. The local people think
that the complex is more than a thousand years old. But when I related the
historical data of the Odishan invasion of Bengal, it seems to me that the complex
came into being in the 11th or 12th century AD and possibly not much later because
the same Odishan kings who later on inclined towards Brahminical faith converted
Jaina temples into Hindu temples for Shiva or Vishnu. Many temples in the course
of time met this fate and images of Jain Tirthankaras came to be worshipped as the
images of the Brahminical order like Vishnu, Shiva or Dharma Thakur. At some
places attempts have been made to modify the images and in that process
deformation took place. So, it may be presumed that the Jain temple complex of
Jinsar either did not get any royal patronage and in that case it might have been
built later on. But in the case of its getting the royal support it must have been
built in the closing years of the 11th century or in the early part of the 12th century. I
also found similar construction materials and techniques in two other places in
this region—the remnants of a temple complex in Raibonia Fort, Odisha and the
Kurumbera Fort at Keshiary, Paschim Medinipur.
Whether the Jinsar complex was primarily a temple complex is not certain. Idols
have long been removed and only a fragment of a minor sculpture is put there
which was being worshipped till a few years ago by the modern Jain followers of
Medinipur. That the complex is situated on the bank of the river Kansai indicates
its location on a trading route. It is well known that some Jain temples in those
Chitrolekha International Magazine on Art and Design, (ISSN 2231—4822), Vol. 3, No. 1, 2013
URL of the Issue: www.chitrolekha.com/v3n1.php
Available at www.chitrolekha.com/V3/n1/06_Jain_temple_jinsar.pdf
Kolkata, India. © www.chitrolekha.com
35 Chitrolekha International Magazine on Art and Design, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2013
times functioned as a financial establishment. However, the complex might have

been built as an abode of the travelling Jain Shramans or Sanayasis and some
arrangements might have been there for them.
Sadly the complex is now completely abandoned and it stands on the mercy of
nature and the local people who do not have any religious or cultural attachment
to the beautiful structure. Many stone slabs are found dislocated and people use
them for various daily purposes. I found strong destructive vegetation growing
threateningly all over the complex and if not taken care of, the trees growing on
them will tear it apart.
I talked with some academicians about it and found that they know almost
nothing about it. The modern Jain communities of Kharagpur and Midnapore
must be either ignorant of its existence or apathetic to it. Otherwise, this beautiful
and sacred architectural specimen must have drawn their attention. Finally, I
found no restoration or conservation initiatives by the Govt. agencies. It is strange
that they are mainly concerned with the preservation of colonial heritage in and
around Kolkata. The tourism department (does it exist at all!) could have linked it
with the Pathra site just on the opposite bank of the river and made a very
attractive tourism destination. But no such effort is in sight. The Bengalis feel
proud of the Muslim and British rule here, but they perhaps cannot accept the fact
that for many years a considerable portion of Bengal was under the Oriya kings
and many people for many years lived within the culture they created.
36 The Temple Complex of Jinsar near Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipur: a Photo Journey
Gallery of the Jinsar Temple Complex

Tarun Tapas Mukherjee is Assistant Professor, Bhatter College, Dantan, Paschim

Medinipur.

06_Jain_temple_jinsar

Uploaded by

Document Informationclick to expand document information

Copyright:

Available Formats

06_Jain_temple_jinsar

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

06_Jain_temple_jinsar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Temple Complex of Jinsar near Kharagpur,

Paschim Medinipur: a Photo Journey

times functioned as a financial establishment. However, the complex might have

Gallery of the Jinsar Temple Complex

Tarun Tapas Mukherjee is Assistant Professor, Bhatter College, Dantan, Paschim

You might also like