The Sarak Community: The Legacy of the Jain 'Shravaka' Tradition in the Agrarian Society of Manbhum

Jainism first spread in Bengal in the south-western border region of West Bengal, especially in the Manbhum region. The various archaeological monuments of the region continue to bear witness to that history. The people of the Sarak community were the main patrons of Jainism in the region. The people of the Sarak community followed the advice of Tirthankar Parswanath Swami and followed the rules of Jainism from within the household; hence, they were called ‘Shravak’. In the past, it was the people of the ‘Shravak’ community who became known as Sarak. However, with the change in the political situation, people of this community face various problems in following their distinct life journey. However, the people of this Sarak community, following Jainism, have made some compromises with Hinduism to save themselves, but their distinct lifestyle continues to this day.