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Jainism in Pakistan

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Jainism in Pakistan

Jainism in Pakistan has an extensive heritage and history, although Jains form a very small community in the country today. While many Jains have claimed there is evidence for the presence of Jainism in the Indus Valley Civilization which existed in Pakistan and northwestern India, there is no definitive evidence verified by archaeologists.

Contents

History

Several ancient Jain shrines are scattered across the country. Baba Dharam Dass was a holy man whose tomb is located near the bank of a creek called (Deoka or 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.

Bhabra

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

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.
  • 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.
  • Gujranwala: Two old Jain libraries managed by Lala Karam Chand Bhabra were present here which were visited by Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar.
  • Lahore: There were Jain temples at localities still called Thari Bhabrian and Gali Bhabrian.
  • Rawalpindi: Bhabra Bazar is named after them.
  • Mianwali: A well known cast still present in majority there nowadays.

    • Some also lived in Sindh.

    Punjab

  • Jain temple, Thari Bhabrian Lahore City..
  • Jain Digambar Temple with Shikhar, Old Anarkali Jain Mandir Chawk: This temple was destroyed in the riots of 1992. Now an Islamic school is run from the former temple. 31.561389°N 74.308056°E / 31.561389; 74.308056.

    • Sindh

  • Jain Temples in Nagarparkar
  • Gori Temple, Tharparkar
  • Jain Shwetamber Temple with Shikhar, Ranchod Line, Karachi
  • Jain Shwetamber Temple, Hyderabad, Sindh

    • Jain community

    Prior to 1947, there were small communities of Jains in the Punjab and Sindh regions. Most of them migrated to India after the partition of India.

    Notable people

    Prominent Jains from Pakistan (includes pre-partition Jains):

  • Baba Dharam Dass

    • References

    Jainism in Pakistan Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA