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Bengali Buddhists

May 19, 2023

Bengali Buddhists (Bengali: বাঙালি বৌদ্ধ) are a religious subgroup of the Bengalis who adhere to or practice the religion of Buddhism. Bengali Buddhist people mainly live in Bangladesh and Indian states West Bengal and Tripura.

Bengali Buddhists
বাঙালি বৌদ্ধ (Bangali Bouddho)
Total population
 Bangladesh 350,000
 India 408,080 (West Bengal (282,898) and Tripura (125,182))
Languages
Bengali (native), Sanskrit and Pali (liturgical), English and Hindi (secondary language for official purposes)
Religion
Theravada Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Bengali Muslims, Bengali Hindus, Bengali Christians

Buddhism has a rich ancient heritage in Bengal. The region was a bastion of the ancient Buddhist Mauryan and Palan empires when the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools flourished. South-Eastern Bengal was ruled by the medieval Buddhist Kingdom of Mrauk U during the 16th and 17th centuries. The British Raj influenced the emergence of the modern community.

Today, Bengali Buddhists are followers of Theravāda Buddhism.[1]

History

Ancient Bengal was a center of Buddhist learning and art. Buddhist artifacts have been excavated throughout the region, particularly in Wari-Bateshwar, Chandraketugarh, Paharpur, Mahasthangarh and Mainamati. The Mauryan Empire led by Ashoka extended its suzerainty to the region in the 2nd century BCE. Ashoka played an important role in propagating Buddhism in his own empire and the wider ancient world.[2] Mauryan rule was succeeded by the Buddhist Samatata maritime kingdom in Bengal.

Successive Buddhist powers tussled for dominance with Hindu and Jain kings in the Indian subcontinent. The Bengali Buddhist Pala Empire arose during the 8th century. Founded by the election of a Buddhist chieftain Gopala circa 750 CE, the empire grew into one of the largest imperial powers in classical Asia. The Palas promoted Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism. They patronized the creation of many outstanding temples, monasteries, and works of art. The Palas enjoyed strong relations with the Abbasid Caliphate, the Tibetan Empire and the Srivijaya Empire. The empire reached its peak under Dharmapala and Devapala. They reigned for four centuries until being replaced by the resurgent Hindu Sena dynasty. According to Muhammad Ghulam Rasul, Brahmin persecution played a key role in the decline of Buddhism in India; followed by later Muslim conquest.[3]

 
The Mainamati Buddhist ruins in southeastern Bangladesh

Remnants of Buddhist communities continued to flourish in southeastern Bengal. The Buddhist Kingdom of Mrauk U ruled the region during the 16th and 17th centuries.

By the late 18th century, the region was ceded to the British Empire. During this period, a revival movement developed [4] that led to the development of two orders of Theravada monks, the Sangharaj Nikaya and the Mahasthabir Nikaya.

Demographics

 
A Buddhist temple on Maheshkhali Island, Chittagong

Bangladesh is home to the predominant section of the Bengali Buddhist community. They usually enjoy a high literacy rate and are found in the Bangladeshi middle class, particularly in the port city of Chittagong. Many members of the community reside in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, and Comilla. The eastern Indian state capitals of Agartala and Kolkata also have significant Bengali Buddhist communities.

Bengali Buddhists constitute 0.59% of the population in Bangladesh. According to the 2011 India census, Bengali Buddhists constitute 0.3% or 282,898 of the population in West Bengal. Buddhists constitute 3.41% or 125,182 of the population in Tripura.

Culture

Art

Buddhist art flourished under the Pala rulers. The art for their period is termed Pala art.[5] It influenced art outside of India as well. The artistic tradition continued under the Sena rulers, and thus the term "Pala-Sena" is sometimes used.[6]

Festivals

Buddha's Birthday is a public holiday in Bangladesh & state government holiday in West Bengal.

Bengali Buddhists also celebrate the festival of Madhu Purnima.\ Kathin civar dana(Holy robe offering ceremony)is celebrated month-long in October-November by Bengali Buddhists.

Literature

Bipradash Barua is a Bangladeshi author and novelist.

Music

Partha Barua is one of the pioneers of Bangladeshi rock.

Notable Bengali Buddhists

Indians


Pre-partition Indians

Bangladeshis

Bhikkhus (monks)

 
Dipankara Srijan, president of the Chittagong Buddhist Association, as leader of a delegation at the 6th Buddhist council in Rangoon.
Administration
Freedom Fighters
Politics
Arts and literature
Education
Sports

See also

References

  1. ^ Bechert, Heinz (1970). "Theravada Buddhist Sangha: Some General Observations on Historical and Political Factors in its Development". The Journal of Asian Studies. 29 (4): 761–778. doi:10.2307/2943086. JSTOR 2943086.
  2. ^ Bentley, Jerry H. (1993). Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times. Oxford University Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-19-507640-0.
  3. ^ Muhammad Ghulam Rasul. "Bengal Society before the Advent of Islam" (PDF). Bengali Muslim Research Institute.
  4. ^ "Jewel in the Crown: Bengal's Buddhist Revival in the 19th and 20th Centuries".
  5. ^ Leaves from the Bodhi Tree, Susan and John C. Huntington, Orientations, Oct 89. pp. 26-46
  6. ^ Huntington, Susan L.; Huntington, John C. (2014). The Art of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 978-81-208-3617-4.
  7. ^ Jahangir, Apurba (6 March 2016). "A Free Spirit". The Daily Star. Retrieved 25 January 2016.

May 19, 2023
bengali, buddhists, bengali, religious, subgroup, bengalis, adhere, practice, religion, buddhism, bengali, buddhist, people, mainly, live, bangladesh, indian, states, west, bengal, tripura, bangali, bouddho, total, population, bangladesh, india, west, bengal, . Bengali Buddhists Bengali ব ঙ ল ব দ ধ are a religious subgroup of the Bengalis who adhere to or practice the religion of Buddhism Bengali Buddhist people mainly live in Bangladesh and Indian states West Bengal and Tripura Bengali Buddhistsব ঙ ল ব দ ধ Bangali Bouddho Total population Bangladesh 350 000 India 408 080 West Bengal 282 898 and Tripura 125 182 LanguagesBengali native Sanskrit and Pali liturgical English and Hindi secondary language for official purposes ReligionTheravada BuddhismRelated ethnic groupsBengali Muslims Bengali Hindus Bengali ChristiansBuddhism has a rich ancient heritage in Bengal The region was a bastion of the ancient Buddhist Mauryan and Palan empires when the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools flourished South Eastern Bengal was ruled by the medieval Buddhist Kingdom of Mrauk U during the 16th and 17th centuries The British Raj influenced the emergence of the modern community Today Bengali Buddhists are followers of Theravada Buddhism 1 Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 3 Culture 3 1 Art 3 2 Festivals 3 3 Literature 3 4 Music 4 Notable Bengali Buddhists 4 1 Indians 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory Edit Somapura Mahavihara from the Pala dynasty a UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient Bengal was a center of Buddhist learning and art Buddhist artifacts have been excavated throughout the region particularly in Wari Bateshwar Chandraketugarh Paharpur Mahasthangarh and Mainamati The Mauryan Empire led by Ashoka extended its suzerainty to the region in the 2nd century BCE Ashoka played an important role in propagating Buddhism in his own empire and the wider ancient world 2 Mauryan rule was succeeded by the Buddhist Samatata maritime kingdom in Bengal Successive Buddhist powers tussled for dominance with Hindu and Jain kings in the Indian subcontinent The Bengali Buddhist Pala Empire arose during the 8th century Founded by the election of a Buddhist chieftain Gopala circa 750 CE the empire grew into one of the largest imperial powers in classical Asia The Palas promoted Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism They patronized the creation of many outstanding temples monasteries and works of art The Palas enjoyed strong relations with the Abbasid Caliphate the Tibetan Empire and the Srivijaya Empire The empire reached its peak under Dharmapala and Devapala They reigned for four centuries until being replaced by the resurgent Hindu Sena dynasty According to Muhammad Ghulam Rasul Brahmin persecution played a key role in the decline of Buddhism in India followed by later Muslim conquest 3 The Mainamati Buddhist ruins in southeastern Bangladesh Remnants of Buddhist communities continued to flourish in southeastern Bengal The Buddhist Kingdom of Mrauk U ruled the region during the 16th and 17th centuries By the late 18th century the region was ceded to the British Empire During this period a revival movement developed 4 that led to the development of two orders of Theravada monks the Sangharaj Nikaya and the Mahasthabir Nikaya Demographics Edit A Buddhist temple on Maheshkhali Island Chittagong Bangladesh is home to the predominant section of the Bengali Buddhist community They usually enjoy a high literacy rate and are found in the Bangladeshi middle class particularly in the port city of Chittagong Many members of the community reside in Dhaka Cox s Bazar and Comilla The eastern Indian state capitals of Agartala and Kolkata also have significant Bengali Buddhist communities Bengali Buddhists constitute 0 59 of the population in Bangladesh According to the 2011 India census Bengali Buddhists constitute 0 3 or 282 898 of the population in West Bengal Buddhists constitute 3 41 or 125 182 of the population in Tripura Culture EditArt Edit Buddhist art flourished under the Pala rulers The art for their period is termed Pala art 5 It influenced art outside of India as well The artistic tradition continued under the Sena rulers and thus the term Pala Sena is sometimes used 6 Festivals Edit Buddha s Birthday is a public holiday in Bangladesh amp state government holiday in West Bengal Bengali Buddhists also celebrate the festival of Madhu Purnima Kathin civar dana Holy robe offering ceremony is celebrated month long in October November by Bengali Buddhists Literature Edit Bipradash Barua is a Bangladeshi author and novelist Music Edit Partha Barua is one of the pioneers of Bangladeshi rock Notable Bengali Buddhists EditIndians Edit Shraddha DasPre partition Indians Atisa 10th century Buddhist monk who played a prominent role in the spread of Buddhism to Tibet Also an abbot at Vikramashila monastery Chandragomin 7th century Buddhist lay practitioner and poet from the Varendra region Traillokyachandra 10th century King of the Chandra dynasty who converted to Vajrayana BuddhismBangladeshis Bhikkhus monks Dipankara Srijan president of the Chittagong Buddhist Association as leader of a delegation at the 6th Buddhist council in Rangoon Karmayogi Kripasaran Mahathero Ven Jyotipal Mahathero Rajguru Aggavamsa Mahathera U Pannya Jota Mahathera Ven U Pannya Jota Mahathera Ven Prajnananda Mahathera Suddhananda Mahathero Bishuddhananda MahatheraAdministrationBarrister Devasish Roy Chakma Raja Chakma Circle Chief Bijoy Giri 15th Chakma Raja of Chakma Circle Benita Roy Aristocrat litterateur diplomat minister and Rani of Chakma Circle Raja Nalinaksha Roy 49th Raja Of Chakma Circle Mong Prue Sain King of Mong Circle Freedom FightersUK Ching Bir BikramPoliticsDilip Barua Communist Party of Bangladesh Marxist Leninist Barua Former Minister of Industries Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma Manabendra Narayan Larma Charu Bikash Chakma Kalparanjan Chakma Ma Mya Ching Aung Shwe Prue Chowdhury Sacing Prue Jerry Maa Ma Ching MarmaArts and literatureBenimadhab Barua Kanak Chanpa Chakma artist 7 Bipradash Barua author Partha Barua singer lead vocal and guitarist of Souls Band Sukumar Barua Subrata Barua Ratan Talukder Actor and martial artistEducationBikiran Prasad Barua Sukomal Barua Amit Chakma Aye Thein Rakhaine Academic and PoliticianSportsDebabrata Barua cricket Debashish Barua cricket Sumon Barua cricket Monika Chakma football Rupna Chakma football Anai Mogini football Anuching Mogini football Maria Manda football Ritu Porna Chakma football Sura Krishna Chakma professional boxer Aungmraching Marma football Champa Chakma cricketSee also EditTheravada Pali Canon Buddhism in India Buddhism in Bangladesh Marathi Buddhists Kripasaran MahatheraReferences Edit Bechert Heinz 1970 Theravada Buddhist Sangha Some General Observations on Historical and Political Factors in its Development The Journal of Asian Studies 29 4 761 778 doi 10 2307 2943086 JSTOR 2943086 Bentley Jerry H 1993 Old World Encounters Cross Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre Modern Times Oxford University Press p 46 ISBN 978 0 19 507640 0 Muhammad Ghulam Rasul Bengal Society before the Advent of Islam PDF Bengali Muslim Research Institute Jewel in the Crown Bengal s Buddhist Revival in the 19th and 20th Centuries Leaves from the Bodhi Tree Susan and John C Huntington Orientations Oct 89 pp 26 46 Huntington Susan L Huntington John C 2014 The Art of Ancient India Buddhist Hindu Jain Delhi Motilal Banarsidass Publishers ISBN 978 81 208 3617 4 Jahangir Apurba 6 March 2016 A Free Spirit The Daily Star Retrieved 25 January 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bengali Buddhists amp oldid 1151622028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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