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Jainism in Bengal during the Pala Period
as revealed in the Buddhist Dohas
CHITTA RANJAN PAL
It is generally believed that during the reign of the Pala kings, who were devout Buddhists, the influence of Jainism in Bengal suffered a sharp decline. But information gathered from some Dohākoșas reveal a different picture, which bears testimony to the fact that Jainism was one of the six popular religions of Bengal even during the Pala period.
It is well-known that H. P. Sastri discovered some Bengali manuscripts of Sahaja-Yana Buddhist character in Nepal in 1907 which he edited under the title Bauddha Gān O Doha in 1916. The book consists of some Caryāpadas, one text called Dākārnava and two Dohākoşas. Of the two Dohākoşas, one was composed by Saroja Vajra and commented upon by Advaya Vajra. Being the author of the book, Saroja Vajra must have flourished sometime earlier than Advaya Vajra, the commentator. Regretable as it is, different scholars, inspite of their best efforts have failed to come to an unanimous decision regarding the respective dates of the two writers. So it is safe to avoid controversy, to place them between the 8th and the 12th century A.D. i.e. the age of the Pala kings.
Saroja Vajra in his attempt to refute the Jaina philosophy had levelled severest attacks against the out-ward practice as well as the dogma of the Jaina mendicant. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the Dohākoșawriter and his commentator did not spare even the adherents of other popular sects of the then Bengal. But the harshest language was employed by them against the Kșapanakas or the Jaina monks.
The Jaina practice of keeping long nails, shaving of head, going naked was stigmatised by Saroja Vajra and his commentator Advaya Vajra.
1 R. C. Mazumdar, History of Ancient Bengal, p. 521. 2 Ibid., pp. 389-90, footnote, p. 410. * H. P. Sastri, Bauddha Gan O Doha., p. 6ff.
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