PAHARPUR BUDDHIST MONASTERY

PAHARPUR  BUDDHIST MONASTERY

PAHARPUR  BUDDHIST MONASTERY

The Excavated Remains At Paharpur Are Highly Important In These Represent The Largest Known Buddhist Monastery South Of The Himalayas . The Gradual Deposition Of Wind Blown Dust Over These Ruins For Ages Took The Shape Of A High Mound Or A Hill . Hence The Name Of The Place Has Probably  Become

Paharpur .

Excavations Conducted Here From 1923 To  1934 Yielded A Huge Number Of  Antiquities. Including One Inscribed Copper  Plate Of Gupta (479 Ad). Stone Inscriptions. Stone And Bronze Sculptures. Terracotta . Plaques. Inscribed. Clay Sailings. Ornamental Bricks. Metal Objects. Different Earthen Objects And Silver Coins. From The Reading Of A Number Of Inscribed Clay Sailings, It Is Learnt  

That Original Name Of This Monastery Was Somapura Mahavihara  (Great Monastery) And It Was Built By Dharmapala (770-810 Ad)The  2^Nd Pala Emperor It Is Mentioned That In The Year  1982 And Later Deep Digging Was Conducted In Some Cells Of Paharpur Monastery. As A Result Of Digging One Terracotta Image Head. One Copper Coin And  Some Other Antiquities Were Found At Lower  Occupation Levels. These Antiquities Particularly The Terracotta Image Head  Resembles The Features Of Gupta Sculptures .  Besides These Antiquities The Ruins Of  A  Vast Building Having Larger Rooms  (One Room 16 X 13-6) Had Brought To Light.

Nactar

This Building My Be The Jana Viagra Mentioned  In Paharpur Copper Plate. In Order To Ascertain The Feature Further Deep Digging Investigation  And Study Are Necessary. Paharpur Monastery Measures 922 Feet North- South By 919 Fest-West Having Its Elaborate Gate- Way In The Middle Of The Northern Wing. It Has 177 Cells In Its Four Wings Around An Inner Courtyard. The Existence Of The Lofty Temple In The Middle Of

The Courtyard. Numerous Votive Stupors. Miniature Models Of The Central Temple. Chapels. Small Temples. Kitchen And Ancillary Buildings Are Very Beautiful. The Imposing Central Temple Is Cruciform In Shape And Built High In Terraces. The Outer Faces Of  The Walls Of The Temple Are Decorated By Terracotta Plaques, From The Last Quarter Of 9^Th Century Onward The Pala Empire Was Repeatedly AttractedS By Some Foreign Kings And One Native Kaivarta Chef  Named Divya. Due To Repeated Attacks Somapura Mahavihara Suffered Greatly.

About The Same Time Paharpur Monastery And Temples Were Burnt By Bangla Arme. In 12^Th Century Bengal Passed Over To The Siena Kings Who Were Blind Supportere Of Brahamnism. Thus For Want Of Royal Patronage Paharpur Monastery And Its Temple Were Gradually Abandoned. The Monks And Worshippers Deserted Paharpur And Went To Some Other Places.