Cover illustration for Irbhanath

Irbhanath

CATEGORY
Deities

Irbhanath

Irbhanath (Bengali: ইরভানাথ) is a regional folk deity venerated primarily in Deuli village, located in Bagmundi, Purulia district, West Bengal, India. Worshipped mostly by tribal and rural communities, Irbhanath is believed to be a localized transformation of a Jain Tirthankara, whose original identity evolved through centuries of cultural shifts, oral transmission, and religious syncretism.

Sources: McCutchion (1972), Sengupta (2008)

Etymology and Name Evolution

The name Irbhanath is thought to be a folk-evolved form of Arnath, recorded by J.D. Beglar during his 19th-century survey of the region.

  • Beglar (1872–73): Recorded the name Arnath
  • McCutchion (1972): Later documented the same idol as Irbhanath

This shift reflects oral-linguistic evolution in local traditions.

Historical Background

Early Jain Influence

The region of Rarh Bengal (Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman) was historically important for Jainism, especially between the 2nd and 4th centuries BCE.

  • Jain texts suggest Mahavira may have passed through this area
  • Archaeological finds include Jain temples, chaityas, and sculptures

Decline and Religious Assimilation

As Brahmanical Hinduism rose during the medieval period:

  • Jainism declined
  • Abandoned Jain icons were absorbed into local practices
  • Many Jain idols were renamed and revered as Hindu or tribal deities

The Deuli Temples

The Irbhanath idol is housed in a north-facing temple in Deuli, part of a cluster of five temples documented by Beglar.

  • Central temple faced north
  • Two temples were in ruins
  • The black stone idol included a deer motif, typical of Jain symbolism

McCutchion’s Observations

  • Deer symbol confirmed Jain origin
  • Worship led by a tribal priest
  • The idol was renamed Irbhanath and seen as a fertility deity

Iconography

  • Height: ~3 feet

  • Material: Dark stone

  • Symbols:

    • Deer on pedestal — Jain emblem

    • A separate four-armed idol under a kusum tree:

      • Weapons: sword, mace, ankusha (goad), scimitar
      • Reflects Hindu assimilation

Worship and Rituals

Devotional Practices

Primarily worshipped by women for fertility, especially during Jaishtha Sankranti.

Rituals Include:

  • Bathing Ritual: Women bathe in a nearby pond the night before Sankranti
  • Divination: Objects in hand predict future child’s gender
  • Vow (Manat): Fulfilled wishes are honored with offerings
  • Animal Sacrifice: Goats offered—reflecting Hindu syncretism
  • Annual Fair: Held during Jaishtha Sankranti, attracts large crowds

Scholarly Interpretation

Irbhanath is seen as a religious palimpsest:

  • A Jain Tirthankara gradually reinterpreted as a folk god

  • Illustrates:

    • Fluid religious identities
    • Syncretic layering of tribal, Jain, and Hindu traditions
    • Linguistic transformation: Arnath → Irbhanath

Cultural Significance

Irbhanath represents:

  • The persistence of Jain heritage in rural Bengal
  • Syncretic religious rituals over centuries
  • The important role of women in sustaining religious customs

See Also

  • [Nakti Thakarani]
  • [Maharaj: The Ambiguous Folk Deity of Northern Bengal]
  • [Tistaburi]

References

  • McCutchion, David J. (1972). Late Medieval Temples of Bengal: Origin and Classification
  • Sengupta, Nitish K. (2008). History of Jainism in Bengal
  • Beglar, J.D. (1872–73). Report of a Tour in the District of Purulia and Bankura
  • Sen, Tansen (2008). Interaction and Syncretism in South Asia
  • Ghosh, Amalananda (1989). An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology
  • Roy, R.K. (1995). Tribal Religion and Folk Beliefs of Bengal
  • Chorkoborti, Mriganko. Banglar Debota Opodebota o Lokodebota
  • Settar, S., & Naidu, S. K. (Eds.) (2016). Jainism: Art, Architecture, and Philosophy