Eastern Indian School of Mediaeval Sculpture c10.s2.2

c10.s2.2

The specimens of Jaina sculpture discovered in Bengal proper can be counted on the fingers. Such specimens are very rare in Northern Bengal. The Museum of the Varendra Research Society contains only one Jaina image,¹ which was discovered at Mandoil near Godagari, on the river Padma, in the district of Rajshahi. They are more common in Western Bengal or Rādha. One of them is now preserved in the Museum of the Baṅgiya Sāhitya Parishad at Calcutta.² This particular specimen was discovered in the village of Ujani, near Mangalkot in the Burdwan District. Mr. K. N. Dikshit discovered several Jaina images in the Bankura District, one of which was found in the village of Bahulara³ and another at Harmashra⁴ in the same District. All of these four specimens are, however, nude, proving that the Digambara sect of the Jainas was preponderant in Bengal.