[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [Obscure Religious Cults as Background of Bengali Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946) › c19.2 # Obscure Religious Cults as Background of Bengali Literature c19.2 Obscure Religious Cults as Background of Bengali Literature c19.2 - **Language:** English ### [c19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946.c19.2) Another popular religious cult developed in Bengal out of the admixture of some relics of decaying Buddhism, popular Hindu ideas and practices, a large number of indigenous beliefs and ceremonies, and ingredients derived also from Islam. This cult may be held responsible for the rise and growth in Bengal of a type of literature which deserves attention because of its quantitative as well as qualitative importance. This minor religious cult is aptly styled as the Dharma cult; for, the main deity, around whom the paraphernalia of worship, ceremonies and practices have gathered, and whose boundless grace and unquestionable supremacy have been sought to be demonstrated by a large number of poets in their semi-epical poems, is the Lord Dharma, or, as popularly known, the Dharma-ṭhākura. Credit must be given in this case also to the late MM. H. P. Śāstrī, who played the pioneer's part in bringing to the notice of the public the existence of such a religious cult and the literature on it. - [Previous: c18.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946.c18.5) - [Next: c19.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946.c19.3) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946.c19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dasgupta-1946.c19.2) · Pramāṇa