Buddhist Monastery from 700 AD found!
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Buddhist monastery from 700 AD found
by Shiv Sahay Singh | Apr 03, 2010
Kolkata, India — The excavations at Moghalmari, a nondescript village at West Midnapore in West Bengal, recently brought to the fore a gateway complex of the Buddhist monastery, dating to 7th century AD.
The Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, carried out the excavations from February 15 to March 25.
Archeologists believe that the structural components recovered from the site are parts of a gateway complex of the monastery.
The gateway complex comprises two pilasters or columns built on a curve of gradually ascending bricks of decorative varieties. The pilasters form part of the lateral blocks of the architectural embellishments on either side of what seems like a rammed entrance leading to sets of staircases on both the exterior and interior sides of the northern segment of the complex.
Fragmentary sculptural pieces, terracotta lamps, sprinklers and designer bricks are some of the artifacts that signify the existence of a prosperous monastic establishment at the site.
“The various designer bricks that have been excavated are unique in this part of the country,” said Rajat Sanyal, lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, who has been associated with the excavation since its inception.
The mound at Moghalmari is approximately 80 x 80 metres in dimension and has an average elevation of 15 metres. This, archaeologists say, is just about 25 per cent of the entire mound. Archaeologists believe that it is one of the most promising early medieval sites of eastern India.
Prior to this, Raktamrittika Mahavihara was excavated in Murshibadad in 1962 by archaeologists of the University of Calcutta, under the leadership of S R Das.
Subsequently, another monastery of the Pala period was excavated in the ‘90s by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, West Bengal, at Jagjivanpur in Malda district.
With its pre-Pala monastic, Moghalmari proves the fostering of the Buddhist tradition in southwestern Bengal, say experts.
“Possibly, Moghalmari represents the largest monastic complex so far excavated in West Bengal. We are hopeful that further excavations here will open new vistas on the development of Buddhism in Eastern India”, said Asok Datta, excavation director of Moghalmari and a Reader with the Department or Archaeology, University of Calcutta.
Enthusiastic about the findings, the village-level organisation and local administrative authorities have put up billboards describing the Buddhist monastery on NH-60 and the village roads.
“We want the Moghalmari site to be fully excavated.”
It can serve as an important tourist site. From the panchayat samiti, we have offered all possible help for excavation,” said T M Rakshit, Block Development Officer, Dantan.
Source: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=4,9049,0,0,1,0
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Amazing…
The discovery of ancient Buddhist Monastery dated from 700 AD is amazing. Found in an archaeological excavation site at Moghalmari, India ,artifacts figure of Buddha and Buddhist inscriptions. The archeologists do believe that those structural components recovered are parts of a Buddhist monastic site . A more details study of inscriptions on clay tablets even suggested the presence of two monasteries on the basis of the structural plan. With the discovery of the site and the deciphering of the inscriptions has pointed that Buddhism had spread to India in the 7th century ago.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Amazing discovery at West Midnapore in West Bengal Kolkata, India ,…. archeologists found a Buddhist Monastery dated 700 AD. The structural components compressing of parts which was a gateway complex of the monastery.With the recovery of fragmentary sculptural pieces, terracotta lamps, sprinklers nd so forth are some of the artifacts that suggested the existence of a prosperous monastic site. Back in 90’s another monastery was excavated ,having proved that Buddhism existed in Eastern and southwestern Bengal many many years back.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing
It’s great that they found this ancient monastery at Moghalmari. Like all ancient monuments though, it reminds me of impermanence – as many spiritual monuments used to have people worshipping and visiting but now they are just ruins. Like the Wonders of the Ancient World – Pyramid at Giza, Temple of Artemis – the people who built them or used them have all gone. The irony is that these monuments were built precisely to make sure the people they were built for are remembered. However, without people to continue their traditions, these buildings are just empty shells now.
Likewise this is why Rinpoche always stresses on how important it is that Kechara World Peace Centre (KWPC http://www.kechara.com/peace-centre/) is filled with committed people who will carry on the legacy which Rinpoche has built. Anyone can build a monument but it takes people to have 100% commitment to ensure that it endures. If people are not committed, the building will just be a white elephant, and we don’t even need to hope that Rinpoche will reincarnate back here with us again.
We cannot leave such an important legacy to others, if we want KWPC to manifest, we need to step up and see how each of us can support Rinpoche’s vision and create the causes for it.
Interesting read. There are many types of minds out there, people with different interests. It will be wonderful if Moghalmari site is fully excavated. Who knows what we will discover in there.
What I’m hoping for is that it will turn out to be an attraction, pilgrimage spot of sort,…going back to how people’s interest differs, I hope that the findings will further promote Buddhism, to perhaps those who are historians, those who likes architecture…It’d be interesting of course to know what Buddhist influence had in that area.
India sure is an old nation, where Buddha came forth 2500 years ago and India continues to be a spiritual nation, supporting and giving land to the exiled Tibetan Buddhists. It is due to the kindness of the Indian government that the great masters like Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche who exiled from Tibet rebuilt Gaden Monastery where Tsem Rinpoche is from!
Thank you for posting so much valuable information here, Rinpoche. This whole blog is like a portable Lamrim but equated into our lifestyles and points of reference. We just need to access into this site and a wealth of knowledge springs forth. This is Rinpoche’s world, sharing with compassion so that we can learn and become better.
I did not even hear about this discovery. 7th century AD is a very very long time ago. How incredible to discover such treasures. This brings to mind about what Rinpoche shared with us some while back. Rinpoche explained that Buddha buried several treasures, scriptures and spitritual related items everywhere and these will only be found or discovered at the right time.
This post reminds me of that particular talk. It’s almost like as if Buddha is playing some sort of treasure hunt with us all. Of course, the lucky grand winner gets to be Enlightened!
Incredible!