Vakresvara—a centre of Saivism in Medieval Bengal
Summary
Asoke Chatterjee’s essay investigates Vakreśvara, a tirtha (pilgrimage centre) located in Birbhum district of West Bengal, which became an important centre of Śaivism in the medieval period. The author introduces a newly discovered Sanskrit manuscript, the Vakreśvaratīrthamāhātmya, found in the Asiatic Society’s library in Calcutta, which praises Vakreśvara as a sacred place full of hot springs and a temple dedicated to Śiva. Chatterjee notes that the Br̥haddharma Purāṇa and other Puranic texts mention Vakreśvara, indicating the site’s antiquity. He surveys historical references to Vakreśvara during the rule of the Pāla dynasty. Although the Pāla kings were patrons of Buddhism, they also revered Śiva; Dharmapāla is credited with establishing a four-faced linga at Vakreśvara, and later Pāla rulers granted lands to Śiva’s priests. The article interprets epigraphic evidence to show that the site continued to receive royal patronage from the Sena and Varman dynasties, which reinforced its status as a major Saiva shrine. Chatterjee also examines the temple’s architecture and rituals. The main temple, he notes, houses an unusual linga that is worshipped with tantric rites, reflecting the syncretism of medieval Bengali religion. The presence of hot springs around Vakreśvara adds to the site’s sanctity and may have contributed to its popularity; pilgrims believed that bathing in the springs relieved sins. The author compares Vakreśvara with other Saiva centres in Bengal and argues that its fame rivalled that of Tarakeswar and Jateswar. He also discusses the sociocultural impact of the tirtha: it attracted pilgrims from distant regions, spurred local economies, and fostered the production of Sanskrit and vernacular literature extolling Śiva. Chatterjee concludes that the revival of Śaivism at Vakreśvara did not occur in isolation but was part of a broader trend in eastern India where Saiva and Shakta practices gained prominence alongside lingering Buddhist traditions. He calls for further archaeological and textual research to better understand the evolution of Vakreśvara and its role in Bengal’s religious history.
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Conclusion
Drawing on manuscript evidence, Puranic references and inscriptions, Chatterjee portrays Vakreśvara as a significant Saiva pilgrimage centre by the mid-first millennium. Pāla kings, though Buddhist, installed lingas and granted lands to Śiva’s priests showing that Saivism flourished alongside Buddhism. Hot springs, royal patronage and tantric rituals sustained the site’s popularity. The article argues that Vakreśvara exemplifies the religious syncretism of medieval Bengal and invites more multidisciplinary research to elucidate how regional pilgrimage networks shaped cultural landscapes.