Pakbirra Sculptures – Part 1: Site and Inventory

Summary

Segment 2 begins the main article on Pakbirra by situating the village geographically and historically. Pakbirra is described as one of the most prolific Jain sites in West Bengal, lying south‑east of Purulia town and accessible via multiple routes. Early observers such as Lieutenant R.C. Bevan (1865) and J.D. Beglar (1873) reported seeing dilapidated temples and numerous sculptures scattered around the site. The authors summarise Bevan’s and Beglar’s accounts, noting that early travellers found several temples in ruins and a wide array of detached figures, including a colossal male figure, Jina images, miniature chaityas and architectural fragments. The article then catalogues the current state of the site. Three tri‑ratha single‑celled temples, reconstructed during 1976‑79 by the Directorate of Archaeology, West Bengal, stand on a mound and form a prominent group. Detailed descriptions are provided for each temple: Temple No. 1 has a stone base with a brick superstructure and displays a characteristic pyramidal śikhara; Temple No. 2 is built entirely of stone and still retains parts of its carved jambs and lintels; and Temple No. 3 is similar in plan but smaller. The authors explain the temples’ orientation, measurements, roof forms and decorative motifs, drawing on both archaeological reports and their own observations. They also list the distribution of sculptures around the site. One category includes eight Jina images, five images of tutelary couples, five sculptures near the entrance to a permanent shed, six figures stored in a school compound and sixteen sculptures kept within a thatched school house. A further twenty‑four sculptures are assembled within a walled enclosure called a thākurṭhān. These sculptures vary widely: some are well preserved, while others are fragmentary. The text describes their iconography in detail, noting features such as multiple Jinas carved on one slab, flanking vidyādharas and yakṣīs, lotus pedestals supported by lions or elephants and elaborate back‑slabs. Measurements and estimated dates accompany each description. This segment also summarises previous research on the site and cites sources such as the Census of India, Jain Journal and the Archaeological Survey of India. Overall, the first half of the article provides a comprehensive inventory of Pakbirra’s temples and sculptures and offers descriptive context for the analytical discussion that follows.