Buddhist Heritage of Bangladesh

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Inscriptional records. 3. Seals and sealings. 4. Pilgrim accounts. 5. Ancient sites and settlements. 6. Architectural features. 7. Terracotta ornamentation. 8. Theological advent and evolution. 9. Iconographical survivals. 10. Bells. 11. Symbolic and iconic representation on coins. 12. Poems and songs. 13. Manuscript paintings. 14. Drama. 15. Personalities and scholars. 16. Recent discoveries. 17. Mainamati: a parallel to Nalanda. 18. Terms. 19. Key to plates, figures and maps. 20. Contributors. 21. Photographers. Index.

From the foreword: The time of the arrival of the Aryans in this subcontinent is a debatable issue. However, there is a general consensus that the pre-Aryan Indus Valley Civilization of Pakistan and India was destroyed by the invading Aryans about 1500 BC. The Aryans gradually pushed towards the Gangetic Valley. Subsequent to the establishment of the Maurya dynasty in Eastern India, sporadic settlements of the Aryans in parts of North Bangladesh and West Bengal can be visualized.

Considerable debate has taken place on the claim as to whether any part of Bangladesh was being ruled by the Mauryans, the direct evidence of which is not available. The solitary Mahasthan Brahmi inscription of c. 2nd century BC cannot be taken any more as an (after Paola Tinti) evidence of Mauryan occupation. The fragmentary Brahmi record refers to an imperial authority. It mentions Pundranagara (Mahasthanarh) as a prosperous city where the local administration used to advance grains and coins from royal reserve to the people in times of emergency due to flood, fire and pests.