Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal
by Shubha Majumder | 2017 | 147,217 words
This page relates ‘Archaeological sites in Shadipur (Malda District)’ of the study on the Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal based on the fields of Geography, Archaeology, Art and Iconography. Jainism represents a way of life incorporating non-violence and approaches religion from humanitarian viewpoint. Ancient Bengal comprises modern West Bengal and the Republic of Bangladesh, Eastern India. Here, Jainism was allowed to flourish from the pre-Christian times up until the 10th century CE, along with Buddhism.
Archaeological sites in Shadipur (Malda District)
164. Shadipur:
The site is situated about 500m north of Kaliachak and about 20 kms south-west of Gaur under the jurisdiction of Kaliachak. Many years ago, an image of Ṛṣabhanātha was found from a ruined Muslim dārgarh of this village. It is now kept in the district museum of Malda, with an Acc. No. RXV-12. The site was earlier associated with Jainism. However, from the medieval periods onwards Muslim constructions at the site totally abolished the earlier structural remains and also reused them in later structures. This image also had an eventful live of its own, after it was captured by the Muslims it was re-cut and its back was used for engraving an Arabic inscription. Only an obliquely-shaped fragment of the original composition remains today, broken in two pieces. The site needs fresh investigation and scientific clearance for proper understanding about the nature of the earlier structural remains.