Jainism in Bangladesh

Last updated
Bangladeshi Jains
Total population
~1,000
Languages
Bengali
Indian Languages
Religion
Jainism

Jain population in Bangladesh is small, mainly located in urban areas like Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, where they continue to preserve their cultural and religious practices despite challenges.

Contents

Snake-headed terracotta pots indicating Panchanag or Saptanag worship in Jain tradition discovered in Bangladesh Terracotta pots.jpeg
Snake-headed terracotta pots indicating Panchanag or Saptanag worship in Jain tradition discovered in Bangladesh

History

Jainism likely arrived in the Bengal region, including present-day Bangladesh, around the 5th century BCE. The religion flourished alongside Buddhism and Hinduism in ancient Bengal, especially during the Pala dynasties from 8th to 12th centuries and the Sena dynasty from 11th to 12th centuries. Jains received royal patronage, resulting in the establishment of temples and communities.[ citation needed ]

They contributed to the region’s cultural and architectural development. In 1879, Alexander Cunningham discovered a Jain image at Mahasthangarh, which was later moved to the Varendra Research Museum in 1912. [1]

Jainism in Bengal was wiped out alongside Vajrayana, following Bakhtiyar Khalji's invasion of Bengal in 1204, which heralded the beginning of Islamic rule in the region. However, Jainism saw a resurgence in the region following Mughal conquest, caused by migration of rich Jain merchant communities from North India to Dhaka, the provincial capital of Bengal Subah to pursue commercial interests. The most consequential among these Jain immigrants was the Jagat Seth family.[ citation needed ]

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many Jains from North India moved to urban centers of what is now Bangladesh during British colonial rule, following the conquest of Oudh, to avail better commercial opportunities. Following the Partition of India in 1947, many Jains relocated to India due to communal tensions with Muslims and demographic shifts caused by emigration of Hindus, leading to a significant decline in their population in Bangladesh.[ citation needed ]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jainism". banglapedia. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
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