Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

Author(s): Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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Preface
medieval period, especially the Pālasena period in eastern India roughly comprising Bengal, Bihar, Assam, northern part of Orissa and Bangladesh, was interesting, varied and complex from the icono-religious point of view.
The Ajivikas who are usually considered as an offshoot of the Jainas is the subject matter of the appendix. In course of study on the Ajīvikas, an attempt has been made to throw light on the reasons behind the emergence and early historical development of the sect and its well perceptible growth in eastern India in the subsequent centuries. Occupying an optimum position in the field of asceticism they did not maintain their separate identity in the longrun, probably due to their ideological proximity with the Jainas. Of course, the general philosophy of Ajivikism, i.e., the doctrine of Niyati (fate), has, however, nothing to do with Jainism; but so far as the particulars are concerned, they have many points in common.
Readers desirous of knowing more about the history of Jainism or its philosophical understanding may find the bibliography useful which has been compiled as comprehensively as possible.
I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dr. G. Subbiah of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Viśva-Bhārati for his helpful comments and suggestions. I am also thankful to Professor Agehananda Bharati of the Department of Anthropology, Syracuse University, USA for going through the typed manuscript and other valuable suggestions in connection with the publication of the present volume. I am further indebted to my wife Smt. Sikha Jash for her help in connection with the preparation of the press copy of the manuscript,
Pranabananda Jash
Visva-Bharati Santiniketan January, 1989