Jainism in Bengal

Archaeological show Jainism was a significant religion in Bengal during the early historic period. Xuanzang, the 7th century Chinese pilgrim found numerous Digambara Jains in Pundravardhana (northern Bengal) and Samatata (southeastern Bengal).^[1]

The remains in Bangladesh Museums include ^[2]:

1. Standing Mahavira, black basalt, 73.6 cm height, Bangladesh National Museum, c 10th-11th century AD;
2. Standing Parsvanatha, black basalt, 60.9 cm height, Dinajpur Museum, c 10th-11th century AD;
3. Standing Tirthankara, black basalt, 93.9 cm height, Dinajpur Museum, c 9th-10th century AD;
4. Standing Shantinatha, black basalt, 65 cm height, Varendra Research Museum;
5. Standing Rsvanatha, black basalt, c 10th-11th century AD, collected from Medinipur;
6. Standing Parsvanatha, black basalt, c 11th century AD, collected from Bankura;
7. Standing Parsvanatha, black basalt, c 11th century AD, collected from 24 Parganas;
8. Seated Rsvanatha, black basalt, 99 cm height, Varendra Research Museum.

Other remains have also been reported from Biharinath, Bahulara, Dharapat, Harmasra, Deulvirya, Pareshnath, Ambika Nagar, Chingry Devi, Barokala, Dhida and Kenduya of West Bengal. Other small collections have also been made from paharpur and Lalmai-Mainamati. A fragmentary iconic representation on display in the Asutosh Museum, Calcutta may have been collected from Faridpur. All these prove that Jainism was in vogue throughout Bengal until the 11th century AD.

The Gupta copper-plate found at Paharpur (c 5th century AD) refers to a Jain monastery in the village Vatagohali.^[3] During 1980-81 excavations at Paharpur, vestiges of earlier structures have been traced below the 8th-9th century level. These earlier structures may be related to the Jaina monastery at Vatagohali. Two Jain temples are still present at Satmatha of Bogra town and Bakshi Lane of Meherpur town, but architecturally they are of 19th century origin. According to the local people these were built by some merchants from Gujrat of India.

The Jainas of Bengal were the followers of the Digambara tradition.^[4] All the images of the Tirthankaras found in Bengal are nude. The Tirthankara is depicted in kayatsarga, otherwise known as the Samapadathanaka pose. In a few pieces they are surrounded by their fellow Tirthankaras.

The Jainas of other regions of the subcontinent pay their homage, besides the Tirthankaras, to yaksa-yaksi, shasana devi, dikpala, ksetrapala, etc. They have not been noticed in Bengal

See also

• Jain community
• Sarak

References