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Jainism in Pakistan

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A Jain Temple at Sirkap, part of the Indo-Greek kingdom, near modern-day Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan
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Jainism in Pakistan (پاکستان میں جین مت) has an extensive heritage and history, with several ancient Jain shrines scattered across the country.[1] Baba Dharam Dass was a holy man whose tomb is located near the bank of a creek called (Deoka, Deokay, or Degh) near Chawinda Phatic, behind the agricultural main office in Pasrur, near the city of Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. Another prominent Jain monk of the region was Vijayanandsuri of Gujranwala, whose samadhi (memorial shrine) still stands in the city.[1]

Demographics

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Main article: Bhabra

The presence of Pakistani Jains in modern Pakistan is unclear. Prior to 1947, there were Punjabi, Marwadi and Gujarati communities of Jains in the Punjab and Sindh regions. All of them migrated to India during the partition in 1947, thus ending the thousands of years of presence of jainism in the region.

Bhabra (or Bhabhra) is an ancient merchant community from Punjab which mainly follows Jainism.[2][3]

The original home region of the Bhabras is now in Pakistan. While practically all the Bhabras have left Pakistan, many cities still have sections named after Bhabras.

  • Sialkot: All the Jains here were Bhabra and mainly lived in Sialkot and Pasrur. The Serai Bhabrian and Bhabrian Wala localities are named after them. There were several Jain temples here before partition of India.[4]
  • Pasrur: Pasrur was developed by a Jain zamindar who was granted land by Raja Maan Singh. Baba Dharam Dass belonged to the zamindar family who was murdered on a trading visit.[5]
  • Gujranwala: Two old Jain libraries managed by Lala Karam Chand Bhabra were present here which were visited by Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar.[6]
  • Lahore: There were Jain temples at localities still called Thari Bhabrian and Gali Bhabrian.[7]
  • Rawalpindi: Bhabra Bazar is named after them.
  • Mianwali: A well known cast still present in majority there nowadays.

Some also lived in Sindh.[8]

Jains of Sindh

Geographical distribution

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Colonial era

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The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 29,643,600 according to the final census prior to partition in 1941. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 27,266,001, for an overall response rate of 92.0 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

Jainism in Pakistan by administrative division[f]
Administrative
division 		1941 census
Jain Population Jain Percentage Total Responses Total Population
Punjab[9][a] 9,520 0.05% 17,350,103 17,350,103
Sindh[10][b] 3,687 0.08% 4,840,795 4,840,795
Balochistan[12] 7 0.001% 857,835 857,835
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[11] 1 0% 3,038,067[c] 5,415,666[c]
AJK[13][d] 0 0% 1,073,154 1,073,154
Gilgit–Baltistan[13][e] 0 0% 116,047 116,047
Pakistan 13,215 0.05% 27,266,001 29,643,600

Punjab

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Jain population in West Punjab
YearPop.±% p.a.
1881 4,352—    
1901 5,562+1.23%
1911 5,977+0.72%
1921 5,930−0.08%
1931 6,921+1.56%
1941 9,520+3.24%
Portrait of an unknown Jain Bhabra merchant in Lahore, ca.1859–69
Jains in the administrative divisions that compose the contemporary Punjab, Pakistan region (1881–1941)
District or Princely State 1881[14][15][16][17] 1901[18][19] 1911[20][21] 1921[22] 1931[23] 1941[9]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Sialkot District 1,388 0.14% 2,008 0.19% 2,029 0.21% 2,147 0.23% 2,236 0.23% 3,250 0.27%
Rawalpindi District 1,033 0.13% 1,068 0.11% 1,028 0.19% 954 0.17% 1,077 0.17% 1,337 0.17%
Lahore District 970 0.1% 1,047 0.09% 1,139 0.11% 1,209 0.11% 1,450 0.11% 1,951 0.12%
Gujranwala District 577 0.09% 932 0.12% 950 0.1% 754 0.12% 1,071 0.15% 1,445 0.16%
Bahawalpur State 254 0.04% 0 0% 15 0% 1 0% 12 0% 351 0.03%
Jhelum District 58 0.01% 151 0.03% 163 0.03% 195 0.04% 209 0.04% 159 0.03%
Multan District 47 0.01% 134 0.02% 394 0.05% 28 0% 440 0.04% 552 0.04%
Muzaffargarh District 11 0% 0 0% 1 0% 6 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Shahpur District 9 0% 2 0% 5 0% 3 0% 14 0% 13 0%
Jhang District 4 0% 0 0% 4 0% 7 0% 0 0% 5 0%
Montgomery District 1 0% 8 0% 13 0% 12 0% 38 0% 49 0%
Gujrat District 0 0% 11 0% 48 0.01% 4 0% 32 0% 10 0%
Dera Ghazi Khan District 0 0% 143 0.03% 23 0% 296 0.06% 125 0.03% 106 0.02%
Shakargarh Tehsil[g] 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Mianwali District — — 35 0.01% 31 0.01% 0 0% 20 0% 23 0%
Lyallpur District[h] — — 23 0% 125 0.01% 231 0.02% 95 0.01% 35 0%
Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract — — 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Attock District[i] — — — — 9 0% 5 0% 2 0% 13 0%
Sheikhupura District[j] — — — — — — 78 0.01% 100 0.01% 221 0.03%
Total Jains 4,352 0.05% 5,562 0.05% 5,977 0.05% 5,930 0.05% 6,921 0.05% 9,520 0.05%
Total Population 7,942,399 100% 10,427,765 100% 11,104,585 100% 11,888,985 100% 14,040,798 100% 17,350,103 100%

Jain temples

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Memorial shrine of Vijayanandsuri in Gujranwala. Now used as a police station of Sabzi Mandi area.

Punjab

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An ancient Jain temple at Nagarparkar

Sindh

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See also: Nagarparkar Jain Temples and Gori Temple, Nagarparkar
The original Gori Temple with 52 domes, Nagarparkar
Symbolic & Historical Artwork in the original Gori Temple
  • Nagar Bazaar temple is present in the main bazar of the Nangar Parkar town. The structure of the temple, including the shikhar and the torana gateway is completely intact. It was apparently in use until the independence of Pakistan in 1947, and perhaps for some years even after that. There is also a ruined temple outside of the town.
  • Bhodesar Jain mandir, 7.2 km from Nagar, was the region's capital during Sodha rule. Remains of three temples, are present. In 1897, two of them were being used as cattle stalls and the third had holes in the back. The oldest temple, was built in the classical style with stones without any mortar, built around 9th century. It is built on a high platform and reached by a series of steps carved into the rock. It has beautifully carved huge stone columns and other structural elements. The remaining walls are unstable and partially collapsed. Parts of the building had been dismantled by the locals who used the bricks to construct their homes. It is perhaps the most spectacular of the monuments in Sindh. The two other Jain temples are said to have been built in 1375 CE and 1449 CE built of kanjur and redstone, with fine carvings and corbelled domes.
  • Karoonjar Jain mandir is at the base of the mountain.
  • Virvah Jain mandir, are a number of ruins of Jain temples here. One of the temples had 27 devakulikas in it. The ruins of legendary Parinagar are nearby. One of the temples is in good preservation.
  • Virvah Gori mandir is 14 miles from Viravah. The legendary temple with 52 subsidiary shrines was built in AD 1375–6. It is dedicated to Jain tirthankar Gori Parshvanatha.
  • Jain Shwetamber Temple with Shikhar, Ranchore Line, Karachi[28]
  • Jain Shwetamber Temple, Hyderabad, Sindh[28]
  • Ancient Jain temple located at the foot of Karoonjhar Mountains
    Ancient Jain temple located at the foot of Karoonjhar Mountains
  • Jain Temple of Bhodesar
    Jain Temple of Bhodesar
  • Virawah Jain Temple
    Virawah Jain Temple
  • A Jain Stupa.[29]
    A Jain Stupa.[29]

Notable people

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Prominent pre-partition Jains from Pakistan:

Notes

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  1. ^ a b 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1941 census data here:[9]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  2. ^ a b 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Dadu, Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Upper Sind Frontier), and one princely state (Khairpur), in Sindh Province, British India. See 1941 census data here:[10]
  3. ^ a b c Religious data only collected in North West Frontier Province, and not in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Total responses to religion includes North West Frontier Province (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), and total population includes both North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both administrative divisions which later amalgamated to become Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  4. ^ a b 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of two districts (Mirpur and Muzaffarabad) and one Jagir (Poonch) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary self-administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. See 1941 census data here:[13]
  5. ^ a b 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of one district (Astore) and one agency (Gilgit) in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that ultimately would be administered by Pakistan, in the contemporary administrative territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. See 1941 census data here:[13]
  6. ^ 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all administrative divisions that compose the region of contemporary Pakistan, including Punjab,[9]: 42 [a] Sindh,[10]: 28 [b] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[11]: 22 [c] Balochistan,[12]: 13–18  Azad Jammu and Kashmir,[13]: 337–352 [d] and Gilgit–Baltistan.[13]: 337–352 [e]
  7. ^ Part of Gurdaspur District which was awarded to Pakistan as part of the Radcliffe Line.
  8. ^ District formerly inscribed as the Chenab Colony on the 1901 census, later renamed to Lyallpur District, created between Jhang District, Gujranwala District, Lahore District, Montgomery District, and Multan District to account for the large population increase in the region, primarily due to the Chenab Canal Colony.
  9. ^ District created in 1904 by taking Talagang Tehsil from Jhelum District and Pindi Gheb, Fateh Jang and Attock Tehsils from Rawalpindi District.
  10. ^ District created between Gujranwala District, Sialkot District, Amritsar District, Lahore District, Montgomery District, and Lyallpur District in 1920 to account for the large population increase in the region, primarily due to the Chenab Canal Colony.

References

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  1. ^ a b Khalid, Haroon (4 September 2016). "Sacred geography: Why Hindus, Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs should object to Pakistan being called hell". Dawn. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. ^ Final Report of Revised Settlement, Hoshiarpur District, 1879-84 By J. A. L. Montgomery, p. 35
  3. ^ Census of India, 1901 By India Census Commissioner, Sir Herbert Hope Risley, p. 137-140
  4. ^ Gazetteer of the Sialkot District, 1920 - Page 51
  5. ^ Baba Dharam Dass Tomb in Pasrur
  6. ^ The two Jain Libraries at Gujranwala by Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar in A Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Library of the Deccan College, by Deccan College Library, Franz Kielhorn- 1884 -- Page 12
  7. ^ "jainrelicsinpakistan - abafna". Abafna.googlepages.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  8. ^ A gazetteer of the province of Sindh by Albert William Hughes - 1876, - Page 224
  9. ^ a b c d India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". p. 42. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215541. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 12, Sind". p. 28. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215545. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 10, North-West Frontier Province". p. 22. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215543. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b India Census Commissioner (1942). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 14, Baluchistan". pp. 13–18. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215993. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f India Census Commissioner (1941). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 22, Jammu & Kashmir". pp. 337–352. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215644. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057656. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057657. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057658. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Gazetteers Of Gurdaspur District, 1883-84". 1884. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. p. 34. JSTOR saoa.crl.25363739. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Punjab District Gazetteers Gurdaspur District Vol.21 Statistical Tables". 1913. p. 62. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. p. 27. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393788. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  21. ^ Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II". p. 27. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. p. 29. JSTOR saoa.crl.25430165. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. p. 277. JSTOR saoa.crl.25793242. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  24. ^ TEPA to remodel roads leading to Jain Mandir Chowk
  25. ^ Ghauri, Aamir (5 December 2002). "Demolishing history in Pakistan". BBC News.
  26. ^ Wikimapia
  27. ^ LIST OF JAIN TEMPLES IN PAKISTAN Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ a b List of Jain temples in Pakistan Archived 15 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Jain World
  29. ^ Bronkhorst, Johannes (2016). How the Brahmins Won: From Alexander to the Guptas. BRILL. p. 466. ISBN 9789004315518.
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