Bengali Scholars at Benares (1657 A.D.)

Summary

This study uses a 1657 Nirnayapatra from Benares to reconstruct the presence and activities of Bengali scholars in the city. The document lists 77 pandits consulted in a legal dispute, among them several prominent Naiyayikas from Bengal. The author details the biographies of scholars such as Madhavadeva, who migrated from Bengal to Benares in the mid‑17th century and wrote important works like the Nyayasara and a commentary on Praśastapadafile:///home/oai/redirect.html. Other listed scholars include Ramakrishna Bhattacharya, Raghudeva Bhattacharya and Raghunatha Siromani’s disciples, with notes on their teacher–student relationships and movements. By cross‑referencing the Nirnayapatra with manuscripts and commentaries, the article shows that Benares was a cosmopolitan centre where Bengali and Maithili scholars interacted and collaborated. The author discusses how political turmoil in Bengal drove some scholars to the safer environment of Benares, and how the Nirnayapatra demonstrates collegial decision‑making involving scholars from multiple regions. He argues that such documents are rare but invaluable for understanding intellectual networks and the flow of ideas. The article positions Benares as a hub for the Nyaya school of logic and a meeting ground for diverse scholarly traditions.