Jainism in Bengal

Archaeological show Jainism was a significant religion in Bengal during the early historic period. Huen-tsang, the 7th century Chinese pilgrim found numerous Digambara Jains in Pundravardhana (northern Bengal) and Samatata(southeastern Bengal) [Bibliography PC Bagchi, 'Development of Religious Ideas' in RC Majumdar (ed), History of Bengal, Vol-1, Dacca, 1968 (2nd edn); ] .

The remains in Bangladesh Museums include [ [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/J_0028.htm BANGLAPEDIA: Jainism ] ] :
# Standing Mahavira, black basalt, 73.6cm height, Bangladesh national museum, c 10th-11th century AD;
# Standing Parsvanatha, black basalt, 60.9cm height, Dinajpur Museum, c 10th-11th century AD;
# Standing Tirthankara, black basalt, 93.9cm height, Dinajpur Museum, c 9th-10th century AD;
# Standing Shantinatha, black basalt, 65 cm height, Varendra Research Museum;
# Standing Rsvanatha, black basalt, c 10th-11th century AD, collected from Medinipur;
# Standing Parsvanatha, black basalt, c 11th century AD, collected from Bankura;
# Standing Parsvanatha, black basalt, c 11th century AD, collected from 24 Parganas;
# Seated Rsvanatha, black basalt, 99cm height, Varendra Research Museum.

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

The Gupta copper-plate found at Paharpur(c 5th century AD) refers to a Jain monastery in the village
Vatagohali [http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE320080324051700&Page=3&Title=Features+-+Health+%26+Science&Topic=166 Archaeologists find brick structure belonging to pre-Pala era in BangladeshMonday March 24 2008] . During 1980-81 excavations at Paharpur, vestiges ofearlier structures have been traced below the 8th-9th century level.These earlier structures may be related to theJaina 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 19thcentury origin. According to the local people these were built bysome merchants from Gujrat of India.

The Jainas of Bengal were the followers of the Digambara tradition [AK Roy, A History of the Jainas, New Delhi, 1984.] . All the images of the Tirthankaras foundin Bengal are nude. The Tirthankara is depicted inkayatsarga, otherwise known as the Samapadathanaka pose. In a fewpieces they are surrounded by their fellow Tirthankaras.

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

ee also

*Jain community
* Sarak

References