Jainism in Bengal

Summary

Bengal’s article begins by noting that while only a few Jain families now live in Bengal, ancient literature suggests the region was visited by Mahavira and Bhadrabahuhttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014. The Āyāraṅga Sutta records Mahavira’s travels through the Ladha (Radha) country, and the 9th‑century Kathakośa states that Bhadrabahu was born at Devakot (Bangarh) in northern Bengalhttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014#:~:text=Jinas%20were%20not%20altogether%20unknown,eastern%20India%20was%20known%20after. A sect known as the Godāsagaṇa, named after Bhadrabahu’s disciple Godāsa, later split into four sub‑sects linked to ancient place‑names in Bengalhttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014#:~:text=Dinajpur%20district,Of%20the%20two%20great. Dr Bhandarkar observed that while Buddha and his followers focussed on Bihar and Kosala, Mahavira targeted Bengal, suggesting that Jainism helped Aryanise the regionhttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014. Archaeological evidence corroborates these traditions: a copper‑plate inscription from Pāhāpur dated 478–79 A.D. records the installation of a Jina imagehttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014#:~:text=Bengal%27s%20association%20with%20Jainism%20in,Yuan%20Chwang%2C%20the%20celebrated, and the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Yuan Chwang) noted numerous Jaina nirgrantha ascetics in Bengalhttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014#:~:text=Dharmapala,in%20different%20parts%20of%20Bengal. Early sculptures of Ṛṣabhadeva from Surohar and Mandoil in Rajshahi district display Mathura‑style featureshttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014#:~:text=The%20earliest%20Jaina%20figure%20noticed,in%20case%20of%20numerous%20Tirthankara. Surveys in Purulia, Bankura and Midnapur districts have unearthed many Tirthankara images, caturmukha shrines and sasaṇadevīs; however, locals often worship these as Hindu deitieshttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Jain_Journal_1969_04/520014#:~:text=Purulia%2C%20Bankura%20and%20Midnapur%20have,Rajpara%20in%20Midnapur%20district%20speak. The article laments that many Jain temples in these districts are in ruins and emphasises the need for exploration and preservation.