Reference to the Existence of Jainism in Bengal in the Varman & Sena Inscriptions

Summary

Chitta Ranjan Pal’s article addresses the scarcity of historical references to Jainism in Bengal after the seventh century, emphasising that epigraphic evidence from the Varman and Sena dynasties constitutes rare but important proof of Jain presence. After reviewing earlier literary sources, Pal analyses copperplate grants and stone inscriptions from the ninth to twelfth centuries. The Danialapur copperplate of Śrī Varman (c. ninth century) refers to a Jain monastery and records the grant of land to Jaina monks. An Eleventh‑century Deopara inscription of Vijaya Sena, which extols a temple to “Jinas,” suggests that the Sena rulers patronised Jain religious establishments. Copperplate charters from Laksman Sena refer to the “Jaina mendicant Sādhus,” while the Kamauly copperplate of Bhojadeva alludes to the presence of Jain teachers in the royal court. Pal notes that these inscriptions confirm that Jainism persisted as a minority tradition in Bengal alongside Hinduism and Buddhism; at times the Jains appear integrated into the wider community of ascetics. Artefacts such as statues of the Tirthankaras from Purulia and Bankura districts corroborate the epigraphic evidence. The article argues that while royal patronage declined, local communities continued to support Jain shrines, and some Jain centres were absorbed by Brahmanical sects. Pal concludes that, despite limited references, the Varman and Sena inscriptions testify to an unbroken but subdued Jain presence in Bengal during the early medieval period. The article thus enriches our understanding of regional diversity in the history of Jainism and highlights the importance of epigraphy in reconstructing the religious landscape of Eastern India.