An Unique Jaina Image from Sankarpur, Burdwan
By Amal Roy
Summary
The article "An Unique Jaina Image from Sankarpur, Burdwan" reports on the discovery of a rare black‑basalt sculpture of the Jina Santinatha. Found in Sankarpur village in West Bengal, the image depicts the sixteenth Tirthankara standing in kāyotsarga posture on a lotus, flanked by attendants with a halo decorated with elephants, lions, soldiers and peacocks. Such iconography is unusual for Santinatha images. The author surveys Jain sculptures from eastern India, noting that while many Tirthankara images have been found along the Damodar, Kansavati, Suvarṇarekha and Ajay river valleys, Santinatha representations are extremely scarce. Comparable pieces exist only in the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad and at Chatra and Pakbirra. The article recounts the hagiographical story of Santinatha as King Megharattha, who offered his own flesh to save a pigeon, illustrating his self‑sacrifice. A relief at Kumbharia, Gujarat, depicting scenes from Santinatha’s life, is compared to Buddhist Jataka panels. The Sankarpur sculpture’s fine craftsmanship and unique features expand knowledge of Jain artistic production in Bengal and underscore the need for preserving such heritage.
Conclusion
The discovery of the Sankarpur Santinatha image reveals a rare and richly decorated Jain sculpture. Its distinctive halo imagery and scarcity in Bengal highlight the diversity of Jain iconography. By contextualizing the find within the broader distribution of Jain monuments and recounting Santinatha’s life story, the article underscores the value of documenting and preserving such artifacts for understanding regional religious art.