Traces of Jainism in Bengal

Summary

Deva Prasad Ghosh surveys the scattered yet telling traces of Jainism that survive in Bengal’s history and culture. He notes that textual references place Jaina communities in ancient Tamralipti, Kotivarsa and Pundravardhana, suggesting that Jain merchants and monks were active in Bengal’s coastal trade and hinterlands. Archaeological remains—inscribed stone images, temple fragments and votive stupas—are found in Purulia, Bankura, Burdwan and Midnapore districts. Many of these sculptures are now built into Hindu shrines or lie neglected by the roadside. Ghosh points out that rural place‑names such as Vardhamana (Bardhaman) and Shitalpur may preserve memories of Jaina settlements. He traces continuities in folklore: local legends recall ascetic teachers, villages observe Jaina festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti under Hindu guises, and certain proverbs employ Jaina terminology. The Sarak Jains, a distinct community in western Bengal, maintain Digambara practices while worshipping Hindu deities, illustrating syncretism. Ghosh laments the paucity of systematic excavation and documentation; many remains have been lost to collectors or destroyed. He calls attention to minor antiquities such as earthenware lamps, miniature shrines and terracotta plaques that indicate the presence of a lay Jaina population. The article underscores how the gradual decline of organised Jainism in Bengal from the 10th century onward led to the assimilation of its material culture into other traditions, leaving only vestigial marks of a once‑vigorous religion.