Sacred Landscapes and Lost Heritage: A Geo-Cultural Study of Jain Relics in Lakshmisagar, Bankura, West Bengal

Lakshmisagar, located in the Simlapal Block of Bankura district, West Bengal, is a site of significant archaeological and cultural importance. This study explores the geo-cultural landscape of Lakshmisagar through the lens of Jain relics, particularly sculptural and architectural remains that date back to the early medieval period. By examining iconographic features and historical contexts, this paper highlights the syncretism between Jainism and local religious practices. Furthermore, the study incorporates the broader narrative of heritage loss due to unplanned development, such as dam constructions and mining in the Damodar Valley region, which have submerged or destroyed many Jain and Buddhist sites in adjacent areas like Purulia, Singhbhum, and Dhanbad. Through this research, Lakshmisagar emerges not only as a spiritual nucleus but also as a testimony to the cultural continuity and vulnerability of sacred landscapes in eastern India.