Arang
| Arang | |
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Three sculptures of Jain tirthankaras in the Bhand Dewal Temple
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 Arang
Arang
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| Coordinates: 21°12′N 81°58′E / 21.2°N 81.97°ECoordinates: 21°12′N 81°58′E / 21.2°N 81.97°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Chhattisgarh |
| District | Raipur |
| Area | |
| • Total | 23.49 km2 (9.07 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 267 m (876 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 16,593 |
| • Density | 710/km2 (1,800/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, Chhattisgarhi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | CG |
Arang is a town and a Nagar Palika in Raipur District in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It is situated near the eastern limits of Raipur City. Arang is an ancient town, which was ruled by the Haihayas Rajput dynasty. It is famous for its many Jain and Hindu temples which belong to the 11th and 12th centuries; these are the Bhand Deval Jain temple, the Mahamsmaya temple, the Panchamukhi temple and the Hanuman temple. Archaeological finds of a copper plate inscription dated to the Gupta Empire, known as the Arang Plate of Bhimasena II of the clan of Rajarsitulya, has established the town's ancient history as a Hindu and Jain religious centre, which was then under the rule of Hindu kings. The Bhand Deval Jain temple is the most ancient of these temples dated to the 11th century where three huge images of Digambara tirthankaras are deified in the sanctum sanctorum; these are carved in black stone and polished.
Economic activity in the town is mostly related to small scale industries of rice and pulse mills, and many types of forest products. Religious tourism is receiving attention.
The name Arang is formed of two words ara meaning "saw" and anga meaning "body". According to a legend, king Moradhvaja of the Haihaya dynasty severed his son's body with a saw and offered it to the pet lion of the god Krishna at the latter's directive.
Arang was ruled in ancient times by the Haihayas Rajput dynasty. Archaeological finds establishes that the town had an ancient history as the centre of Hindu and Jain religious faiths. Arang also finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
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