Jain Journal 1984 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 19

132
tury A.D. Strikingly enough, a number of Jaina images have been brought to light from different parts of Bengal, almost all of which can be attributed to about the 9th and 10th centuries A.D.
JAIN JOURNAL
In fact this was a period of great artistic efflorescence in Bengal, a period of vigorous activity in the fields of building temples, making images and illustrating manuscripts, that have enormously enriched the cultural traditions of the country. At this time the Palas were ruling in Bengal, a dynasty that owed their allegience to the Buddhist faith but were certainly of a liberal disposition. If the sculptures surviving from this period are any indication of the strength of the different religious groups among the people, undoubtedly Brahmanism was the most dominant creed. Buddhism and Jainism were two monastic orders and Buddhist images have been found mainly from Buddhist monastic establishments while Brahmanical temples could spring up at any place. The comparative scarcity of Buddhistic images is probably due to the monastic base of such images. Yuan Chwang noticed large number of monasteries in the different cities visited by him in Karnasuvarna, Samatata and Tamralipta and other regions of Bengal. At all these places he noticed numbers of Jaina Nirgranthas as well. The Palas being patrons of Buddhism, images of Buddhist affiliation were quite expected from Bengal and little attention was given to the recovery of images if there were any, of Jaina affiliation. Among the only authorities taking any note of Jaina remains in Bengal mention may be made of Sri Kalidas Dutta of Jainagar Majilpur, who had brought to light several Jaina images of North Bengal as well as Sunderban areas. According to the Kathākoşa Kotivarsa and Pundravardhana in North Bengal, Tamralipta in the South and Kharvata were the four places that had contributed their names to the four Godasa-gana sects of Jainas in Bengal. Naturally Jaina images could be found from North Bengal where Kotivarsiya and the Pundravardhaniya sects flourished. Jaina remains could consequently be also expected from Tamralipta and Radha areas and as a matter of fact recent explorations have resulted in the recovery of a good few Jaina images proving that Jainism was quite widespread all over different parts of Bengal during the Pala period.
Writing as early as 1939 in the Indian Culture the present writer had drawn attention of interested persons to the Jaina images known at that time from different parts of Bengal. Some of the figures were already noticed by Sri Kalidas Dutta and a few were collected by the Ashutosh Museum. Since then several more images have come to light. Broadly affiliated to the Eastern School of Mediaeval style the Jaina images mostly representing different Tirthankaras reveal a suppleness of form and a restrain and distinctiveness of their own. For convenience's sake the Jaina